The Politics of Studentification and `(Un)balanced' Urban Populations: Lessons for Gentrification and Sustainable Communities?

Abstract

This paper explores the politics of studentifi cation in the UK. It is argued that there is a paradox between New Labour's vision of sustainable communities and the geographical effects of the promotion of higher education-in a similar vein to policies to generate 'positive' gentrifi cation. This contention hinges on the absence of a national policy on the supply of student housing, which dictates how enlarged student populations should be integrated into established communities, or dispersed to other parts of towns and cities. It is asserted that the lack of government policy and the incapacity of institutional actors to intervene or regulate the residential geographies of students are yielding 'unbalanced' populations. This is a factor in the rise of studentifi cation and the fragmentation of established communities. Ironically, some activists argue these 'lost' communities signifi ed lucid exemplars that the sustainable communities policy seeks to engender. These new geographies also obscure the positives of a student population and may foster resentment and confl ict between students and established residents. More specifi cally, the paper illustrates how debates of planning and housing legislation are integral for addressing the challenges of studentifi cation. The paper concludes by considering some possible lessons of studentifi cation for mitigating the negatives of gentrifi cation.

Living with the consequences of policy decisions: reactions to student lifestyles in the neighbourhood

“…It is this concentration that has been referred to as 'studentification' (e.g. Smith, 2008Smith, , 2009, something that creates new processes of urban change (Allinson, 2006;Hubbard, 2008 It is this exodus and the nature of exchanges between Headingley residents about students that is suggestive of a panic.…”

“…Not only may some potential students be deterred by the recent shift in HE policy that makes them responsible for the full cost of their education (shorter degrees and distance learning may also reduce numbers), but commercial providers have recognised that they can make a profit from purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). In the absence of a national policy on student accommodation (Smith, 2008) the private sector has pursued its own policy initiative and built high rise blocks closer to the city centre. It has been estimated that whereas 31% of students in Leeds were in PBSA in 2007, by 2013 that had become 55% (Jones & Brown, 2013).…”

“…As the local business owner, Chris, suggested, moving away offers a sensible solution at an individual level. However, it holds out rather less hope in terms of securing a 'sustainable community' (Smith 2008).…”

Studentification, diversity and social cohesion in post-socialist Budapest

“…The presence of students has several beneficial effects on neighbourhoods, however, this can also be a source of conflicts (Russo, A.P. et al 2003;Smith, D.P. 2008).…”

Les jeunes familles au coeur des transformations des quartiers péricentraux : le cas d’Ahuntsic à Montréal

“…Avancé par Goodsell (2013), le concept de « familification », logé à la suite de la « genderfication » (Van Den Berg, 2013), la « greentrification » (Atkinson et Bridge, 2004), la « studentification » (Smith, 2008;Smith, 2005;Smith et Holt, 2007), ou bien encore la « youthification » (Moos, 2014a et 2014b), offre la possibilité d'étudier comment l'arrivée de familles constitue un moteur de changements au sein du quartier montréa-lais péricentral d'Ahuntsic. Le concept de « familification » tel que proposé par Goodsell se situe dans une perspective de gentrification, perspective qu'il est préférable d'éloigner théoriquement afin d'analyser les processus de transformations sociales des quartiers qui n'ont pas pour conséquence le déplacement des populations anciennes, souvent plus défavorisées, du quartier.…”