High street changeability: the effect of urban form on demolition, modification and use change in two south London suburbs

Abstract

Adaptability and resilience are recognized as essential elements of urban sustainability, yet they remain elusive as propositions supported by empirical research. In the research presented here the affordance of change and continuity – here termed changeability – is investigated through a comparative historical study of two suburban centres in London - Surbiton and South Norwood - which have matured differently, despite many extrinsic similarities. Their development c.1880–2013 is examined through the analysis of digitized historical maps, building use and space syntax analysis of their street plans. Buildings on busy, but not necessarily the busiest, streets in small town centres are said to be the most changeable since they can accommodate a variety of non-domestic uses. Such streets tend to facilitate incremental building modifications and cyclical redevelopment on widefronted plots.