Peter J. Larkham

Building a new heritage : tourism, culture and identity in the new Europe

1. A Heritage for Europe: The Need, the Task, the Contribution G. J. Ashworth and P. J. Larkham Part 1: Theories and contexts 2. From History to Heritage: From Heritage to Identity: In Search of Concepts and Models G. J. Ashworth 3 What New Heritage for Which New Europe? Some Contextual Considerations I. Masser, O. Sviden and M. Wegener Part 2: Producers and consumers 4.Tourism and Heritage: the Pressures and Challenges of the 1990s E. A.J. Carr 5. Cultural tourism and Time-Space Behaviour A.G.J. Dietvorst 6 Who Consumes the Heritage Product? Implications for European Heritage Tourism D. Light and R.C. Prentice Part 3: Choice: whose heritage, which heritage? 7.Whose Heritage? Global Problem, European Nightmare J.E. Tonbridge 8 Heritage Conservation and Revisionist Nationalism in Ireland B.J. Graham 9. The Renaissance of Cultural Vernacularism in Germany J. Soane 10. Urban Heritage in the Czech Republic R. Hammersley and T. Westlake Part 4: The achievement, hopes and limitations of heritage planning 11. Tourism: Support or Threat to Heritage? P.T. Newby 12. Heritage and Culture: A Capital for the New Europe E. Morris 13. A New Heritage for a New Europe: Problem and Potential P.J. Larkham. Indices.

Conservation and the City

Preface, Part 1: The Conservation Background, Chapter 1. Introduction: Conflict and Conservation, Chapter 2. The History of Urban Conservation, Chapter 3. The Spread of Conservationism: the British Experience, Chapter 4. Conservation and Changing Legislation: Implications for the Landscape, Part 2: The Changing Conserved Town, Chapter 5. Area-based Conservation, Chapter 6. Decision-makers and Decision-making in the Conserved Townscape, Chapter 7. Area Enhancement, Development Control and Policy, Chapter 8. Amounts and Types of Change in the Conserved City Centre, Chapter 9. Changes in Residential Conservation Areas, Chapter 10. The Impact of Change on the Conserved Townscape, Part 3: Implications of Conservation: Ethics, Theory, and Practice, Chapter 11. Townscape Change and the Conserved City, Appendix 1: Chief Planning Officers Report on Proposed Extension to Norwich Conservation Area, Appendix 2: Comments on the Crowngate Shopping Centre Scheme from the Worcester City Department of Technical Services, Appendix 3: Approach to Managing Historical Urban Landscapes, References, Index

CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS OF CORRIDORS: EVIDENCE FROM ENGLAND'S MIDLANDS

Abstract This article reports upon some of the findings of the CORRIDESIGN research funded under the INTERREG IIC programme, focusing in particular upon the UK’s West Midlands to London corridor. This corridor can be seen as a complex area of ‘braided’ infrastructure. It reports upon the spatial dynamics of transportation, economic development, urbanisation and institutional functions of that area. The article explores some historic antecedents of corridor development; discusses the perceptions of key stakeholders in the study area; and outlines the key issues and potential policy-making building blocks that were identified. Finally the article reflects upon what the findings suggest about the concept and definition of transnational corridors between major urban agglomerations in north-west Europe. It develops Myrdal’s concepts of ‘spread’ and ‘backwash’, and of the ‘armature’ as applied to the corridor concept.

Plans, planners and city images: place promotion and civic boosterism in British reconstruction planning

This article reviews an unusual and subtle form of place promotion, that contained in the series of British post-war reconstruction plans produced up to c . 1952. These were not explicitly designed as place-promotional literature, and we suggest that they should be seen as subverse promotion of towns and cities, as well as vehicles for civic boosterism. Evidence of this is discussed with respect to the production of these plans, for example in the commissioning of eminent and expensive consultants; in the texts of plans; and in the often striking and colourful imagery used.

Informal urban agriculture : the secret lives of guerrilla gardeners

The book explores how unused and under-used urban spaces – from grass verges, roundabouts, green spaces – have been made more visually interesting, and more productive, by informal (and usually illegal) groups known as “guerrilla gardeners”. The book focuses on groups in the English Midlands but the work is set in a broad international context. We show, through detailed observation and interviews, the differing motivations of groups and individuals involved in trying to produce edible crops on a small scale in the ‘forgotten landscapes’ of towns and cities. Some are illegal by design, looking for the thrills – the “naughtiness” as some say - in doing this secretly; but others simply have not obtained the right permissions from land owners. Guerrilla gardening has usually been presented uncritically, a generic “good thing” – and we present a more critical and balanced evaluation of the activity. The amount of un- and used-used space is surprisingly high, although the amount of food that can be produced in this way will be relatively small. However, local involvement in food production, in beautifying the environment even for a short while, can make a lot of difference.

Urban design, urban quality and the quality of life: Reviewing the department of the environment's urban design campaign

Abstract This paper explores issues of ‘quality’ in urban design, principally through an evaluation of one UK government initiative. Between 1994 and 1996–97 the former Conservative government sought to promote ‘quality’ and ‘responsibility’ in the broad fields of urban and rural planning through the Department of the Environments Quality in Town and Country (QTC) initiative. It was one of the more widely welcomed activities of this administration, but its achievements are questionable. One key component of the QTC initiative was the Urban Design Campaign (UDC), which sponsored 21 selected projects to provide case‐studies and demonstration projects, each tackling a difficult design and development challenge. This review, via the experience of two of the projects, addresses the questions of what lessons were learned from the UDC in terms of processes and outputs, and in responding to the rhetorical questions—particularly focusing on the nature of urban design in the development process and its relationshi...

Exploring guerrilla gardening: gauging public views on the grassroots activity

The literature on guerrilla gardening is developing rapidly. The majority of these accounts currently derive from North America, with little academic exploration apparent beyond this context: they focus explicitly on the grass-roots gardeners and show little regard for those surrounding the actions location. Guerrilla gardeners often colonise land not only without the permission from authorities, but also with little regard for those who surround the space; transforming areas without consulting with the local communities. This paper explores those affected by guerrilla gardening; grounding our argument in evidence gathered from the activities of three guerrilla groups. In doing so, we investigate the publics views of several informal gardening projects, questioning their value and impact on the surrounding areas. The emerging responses are very mixed, ranging from positive comments about improving aesthetics, to negative remarks surrounding the practices of some groups. Ultimately, this paper demonstrates how, although often promoted and perceived to be a constructive activity, guerrilla gardening can result in adverse impacts on those who surround colonised sites.

Suburban cramming and development control

Summary The more intensive development of existing, low‐density residential areas by private enterprise is investigated in sample areas in South‐East England and the Midlands between 1960 and 1987. On average the areas in the South East underwent greater development pressure (measured by numbers of planning applications and appeals per site), more influence by local authorities (particularly through the refusal of planning applications), more attempts by developers to use initial planning approvals as stepping stones to more profitable approvals, and more complex and protracted interactions between applicants and local authorities. There was considerable variability between individual study areas. Decision making by local authorities was related much more to the circumstances of individual sites than to formal plans. Pre‐development activities tended to be particularly protracted where private individuals were among the applicants and where multiple‐dwelling developments were attempted. Doubt is cast on t...

Rebuilding the industrial town: wartime Wolverhampton

There are well-known reconstruction plans for various UK cities produced during and after the Second World War, but little attention has been paid to those towns suffering little damage, or whose plans were not drawn up by the usual eminent consultants. This paper explores the process of preparing such a plan for Wolverhampton, in the English West Midlands. Here, a ‘technocentric’ plan is evident, typical of the 1940s reconstruction plans, but one with roots stretching back a decade into the middle 1930s; one whose key impetus was the Borough Surveyor, but which was prepared for a major programme of public involvement and consultation. Although this plan was not carried out in this form, it set the agenda for the next forty years of development in planning thought and in changing urban form. It was pivotal in the history of the town and its restructuring from the middle of the twentieth century.

Residents attitudes to conservation

Abstract This paper examines the neglected area of the perceptions and attitudes of residents of United Kingdom conservation areas to these conservation designations, and to conservation planning as a whole. Three residential conservation areas in the English midlands, designated in the early 1970s, were surveyed through a postal questionnaire of all residents. The results support the general suggestion that conservation planning is extremely popular and well supported in the United Kingdom. There are, however, worrying aspects of lack of knowledge, poor experiences and a much wider conception of conservation than purely planning legislation suggests.