The renaissance of our citites has also lead to a crisis of space, with affordable housing in the heart deemed unviable, and heritage assets and green areas under threat. This is turn has caused a crisis of city communities. New architecture is ‘closed off’, space is unsuitable for families leading to population churn making community building difficult. There is an increasing polarisation of an urban elite and a precarious working class in space which fuels political divisions.
The ‘Urban Spring’ challenges that polarisation. It’s about developing strategic planning that delivers for everyone, empowering inner city community movements, finding financial solutions to saving heritage and increasing greenspace, and seeing affordable housing as integral to a city’s economic and social development.
