| dc.description.abstract | Neighbourhood mixing, particularly on the basis of housing tenure, has received a resurgence of interest in policy across the UK. This is enacted with the understanding that social mixing will interrupt the mechanisms driving negative neighbourhood effects in areas of concentrated disadvantage, and positively influence personal outcomes of lower socio-economic status residents.
In order for the benefits of mixed neighbourhoods to be realised, interaction between groups is required. There has been much research on the importance of formal meeting opportunities in the community, such as schools or libraries. However, this research focuses on the potential role of informal meeting opportunities, such as the shared spaces of the housing development, in facilitating interactions between neighbours. This research uses a case-study approach, focusing on shared entrances, parks, and semi-private courtyards in Stratford’s East Village in London. The site was selected as a relatively new development, lacking in historical legacy or effect of enforced change to the neighbourhood, with a strong mix of housing tenures: 50% are private rented, 25% are affordable homes, and 25% are social rented. A mixture of observational data and the analysis of 17 semi-structured interviews with residents are used to investigate the interactions between different socio-economic groups within informal shared spaces in this mixed-tenure development. The spaces which are available; how residents use the spaces and for what purpose; what kinds of interactions take place between residents; the influence this has on local connections; and the extent to which this impacts residents’ sense of community are all examined.
The main findings are as follows: it was found that the main use for the shared spaces was to pass through to get to other facilities, although children did spend more time in the parks. There exist some tensions over the expected users of the main park, with some residents feeling unwelcome due to its location. In contrast, the courtyards were preferred, and felt more equal. When events are held in the held, this gathers a greater, and more diverse crowd. Of the interactions which did take place, they are mostly light exchanges which do not necessarily lead to more local contacts. However, the use of the spaces and high levels of interactions were found to be positively linked to residents’ stronger sense of community.
There are some concerns over the generalisability of results, in relation to the potential uniqueness of the case-study used and the limitations posed by the interview sample. However, it is concluded that this should not detract overall from the addition this results makes to current understanding. Directions for future research involving more longitudinal studies and the connection to more formal meeting opportunities are advised. Finally, policy recommendations are made in light of these results, relating to the multi-functionality of spaces and a concern for their location in relation to other amenities. | |
