Sustainable Urban Regeneration in a Global City – The Regeneration of Paddington Basin

Abstract

This chapter examines the processes and practices of local economic\break development policy in London. It argues that they are underpinned by tensions between the twin objectives of promoting the city’s national and international economic competitiveness on the one hand and increasing its levels of social cohesion on the other. These objectives are not always mutually compatible and in the case of a ‘global’ city like London they take on a particularly extreme form with development priorities often skewed towards the global scale and the requirements of economic growth. The chapter draws on a two-year, in-depth study of the politics and practices of one of London’s premiere urban regeneration projects, the Paddington Basin development in the West End. It explores and examines the links between this “flagship” regeneration project and broader agendas for economic competitiveness and social cohesion. It is argued that the former has taken priority over the latter and there exists a disconnection between stated policy objectives and outcomes. The chapter draws out the wider lessons for regeneration projects in cities elsewhere in Europe.