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

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  • Darren Smith

    (Department of Science and Engineering, University of Brighton, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, UK, d.smith@brighton.ac.uk.)

Abstract

This paper explores the politics of studentification 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' gentrification. 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 studentification and the fragmentation of established communities. Ironically, some activists argue these `lost' communities signified 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 conflict between students and established residents. More specifically, the paper illustrates how debates of planning and housing legislation are integral for addressing the challenges of studentification. The paper concludes by considering some possible lessons of studentification for mitigating the negatives of gentrification.

Suggested Citation

  • Darren Smith, 2008. "The Politics of Studentification and `(Un)balanced' Urban Populations: Lessons for Gentrification and Sustainable Communities?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 45(12), pages 2541-2564, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:45:y:2008:i:12:p:2541-2564
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098008097108
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rowland Atkinson, 2004. "The evidence on the impact of gentrification: new lessons for the urban renaissance?," International Journal of Housing Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(1), pages 107-131.
    2. Jason Hackworth & Neil Smith, 2001. "The changing state of gentrification," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 92(4), pages 464-477, November.
    3. Rowland Atkinson, 2004. "The evidence on the impact of gentrification: new lessons for the urban renaissance?," European Journal of Housing Policy, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 4(1), pages 107-131.
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    Cited by:

    1. Debbie Lager & Bettina van Hoven, 2019. "Exploring the Experienced Impact of Studentification on Ageing-in-Place," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(2), pages 96-105.

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