Regeneration and resistance: exclusive manchester

Abstract

The ongoing regeneration of Manchester following the 2008 economic crisis has seen an acceleration of the speed of redevelopment in the city and an increasing threat to the urban form and heritage of the city. The drive to survive the world financial crisis of the last several years offered to many designers, thinkers and activists the prospect that the new neoliberal city might be transformed. With the economic recovery that has returned to parts of the city, however, we can assert that it is ‘business as usual’ and resistance to the commercial development is growing. The extent of over exploited land, inappropriate density and irrational overbuilding is promoted by speculative development cast as urban regeneration at odds with issues of heritage and authenticity of place. The problematic character of public buildings versus the personality-cult creation of icons is only exacerbated by the spreading phenomenon of privatised public space. Developments such as Spinningfields, First Street, St. John’s and St. Michael’s present attitudes to the city which exclude many while attracting investment in the city’s future.