Studentification and Moral Panic When is a Student

Studentification and Moral Panic: When is a ‘Student Area’ a ‘Student Ghetto’? Darren P. Smith University of Brighton, UK The 3 rd International Population Geographies Conference University of Liverpool 20 th June 2006

Structure of presentation n Studentification in the UK: background n Studentification in an international context n Studentification and a changing context l l Dynamics of studentification Perceptions of studentification are not linked to distinct concentrations

Empirical research: n n n Leeds, North of England (2001 -2002) Brighton & Eastbourne, SE (coast) England (2002 -2003) National UK study > Department for Education and Skills / Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2004 -2006) l n Australia l n Melbourne, Hobart (March/April 06) Ireland l n 6 case studies Dublin, Galway, Cork (May/Aug 06) Canada (Ontario / Quebec) l Kingston, Hamilton, Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City (June)

Part one: n Studentification in the UK: background

What is studentification? n Termed coined in 1999 l l Urban change with the hallmarks of gentrification (Smith, 2002) BBC Word of 2002 Macmillan English Dictionary (2003) n ‘[Studentification is] the social and environmental changes caused by very large numbers of students living in particular areas of a town or city’ Wikipedia (2005)

Working definition: Economic n Studentification involves: l l l the revalorisation and inflation of property prices, which is tied to the recommodification of single-family housing or a repackaging of private rented housing to supply HMO for HE students. This restructuring of the housing stock gives rise to a tenure profile which is dominated by private rented, and decreasing levels of owneroccupation. * Or purpose-built student accommodation and knock-on effects?

Working definition: Social n Studentification involves: the replacement or displacement of a group of established permanent residents with a transient, generally young and single, [middle class] social grouping; l entailing new patterns of social concentration and segregation l

Working definition: Cultural n Studentification involves: l the gathering together of young persons with a shared culture and lifestyle, l and consumption practices linked to certain types of retail and service infrastructure

Working definition: Physical n Studentification involves: l an initial upgrading of the external physical environment as properties are converted to HMO. l This can subsequently lead to a downgrading of the physical environment, depending on the local context’

Student Numbers All students (UK) Leeds Nottingham 1995 -96 1, 720, 094 40, 111 44, 685 2004 -05 2, 423, 590 60, 425 (+31, 960) 59, 610

2001 GB Census wards % student households Dunkirk and Lenton (Nottingham) 24. 0 Headingley (Leeds) 20. 8 Crossgate and Framwelgate (Durham) 17. 4 Blean Forest (Canterbury) 16. 6 Loughborough Storer (Charnwood) 16. 5 Selly Oak (Birmingham) 15. 5 Elvet (Durham) 15. 2 Hanley West and Shelton (Stoke-on -Trent) 15. 2 Netherthorpe (Sheffield) 14. 5 St Clement`s (Oxford) 14. 4

2001 GB Census wards % total students Holywell (Oxford) 90. 3 Keele (Newcastle 82. 2 -u-L) Heslington (York) 79. 7 Elvet (Durham) 76. 3 St Nicholas (Durham) Carfax (Oxford) 70. 3 Market (Cambridge) Newnham (Cambridge) 65. 7 68. 2 64. 0

Exaggeration?

Student concentrations: Ireland (source: 1996 and 2002 Irish census, using NIRSA interface) DED % students 2002 (% change 1996 -2002) % shared housing 2002 (% change 1996 -2002) Dun Laoghaire - Dublin 61. 6 (+5. 4) 36. 9 (-12. 7) Gillabbey C - Cork 49. 5 (+0. 3) 43. 1 (+3. 7) Ballysimon - Limerick 45. 2 (-1. 9) 24. 8 (-1. 9) Danagan - Galway 43. 1 (-1. 4) 18. 9 (-12. 3) Taylors Hill - Galway 40. 7 (+13. 8) 22. 7 (+10. 5) Gillabbey A - Cork 37. 6 (-0. 7) 35. 6 (+4. 4) Glahseen - Cork 36. 0 (+8. 7) 22. 2 (+5. 2) Bishopstown - Cork 35. 0 (-3. 0) 26. 6 (+3. 4) Gillabbey A - Cork 34. 3 (0. 0) 22. 7 (+3. 0)

Effects of studentification (What about emotions / experential dimensions? ) Environmental Economic Increased on-street House price parking. inflation. Conversion of family housing into student residences (HMOs) Changes in retail and entertainment services. Purpose-built accommodation, that is out of keeping with the urban character Poorer quality housing stock Increased population density. Increase of squalor Seasonal employment (in shops, pubs). Social Increase of anti-social behaviour Increased levels of crime. Increased pressures on services. Decreased demand for health and educational services. Demand for private rented housing. Displacement / replacement of established residents. Increased competition for private rented houses

A Negative process! n ‘Pubs have been converted to theme bars, which often shut during the summer months when students have returned to their homes. Fast-food takeaways and off-licences selling cheap alcohol dominate the shopping streets. Schools have seen their class sizes plummet as families move out of the area. Inner-city factories have been converted into flats, as locals lose their jobs. House prices have also rocketed as landlords have created a property boom and now people wishing to move house but stay in the area have found themselves priced out of the market’ (The Observer, 21/07/2002).

A Negative process! n ‘In the past three years, more than 8, 500 families have left. Last year 1, 600 houses were converted to house students. Home prices have risen by 50%, knocking firsttime buyers out of the market. Schools fear closure because of a shortage of children in the area. Because students move on, there is an electoral roll-over of 52% a year in Headingley, compared with an average 8% in other Leeds wards’ (The Guardian (11/10/2000).

Perceptions of studentification n Moral panic (National HMO Lobby - 35 university towns) l ‘Us and them’ language n n Class-based claims of ownership to space / place / services / resources - gentrifiers l l l n ‘Host’ community & ‘Guest’ community ‘Territorial wars’ & performances of power relations Intergenerational conflict New forms of [mature] gentrification? Begs questions about: l l Sustainable communties? Balanced communities Social mixing / diversity? The role of studentification / student accommodation for urban regeneration?

Perceptions of studentification When is the ‘demographic imbalance’? n What is the tipping point / threshold? n When are concentrations of students perceived as a problem by an established residential community? n

Perceptions of studentification n Postal (email) questionnaire survey of all HEIs in UK l n Postal (email) questionnaire survey of local community groups within National HMO Lobby l n Response rate 62% (85% completed by Acc. Officer) 17 university towns and cities 6 case studies – follow-up qualitative research l Brighton, Canterbury, Leeds, Loughborough, Manchester/Salford, Nottingham

n Studentification in an international context l The ‘Student Ghetto’ in Kingston

Perceptions of studentification in an international context l Carlton in Melbourne n Harmony between students and established residential community

n Studentification and a changing context l l Changing student populations & geographies The ‘Growing Esteem’ vision (University of Melbourne, 2006) n 4 new student geographies: l l l College Squares Private sector purpose-built Docklands & Southbank Residential halls Community resistance to the manufacture of ‘student ghettos’ Perception of changes which are akin to studentification within UK context

STUDENTIFICATION – CHANGING CONTEXTS (2) n THE PROLIFERATION OF PURPOSE BUILT STUDENT ACCOMMODATION l RELEASING HOUSING FOR AFFLUENT FAMILIES WITHIN THE CITY AND COUNTERING THE ‘DRIFT’ TO THE COUNTRYSIDE (C-URB. )

‘Marvellous Melbourne’? n Any lessons and / or good practice l Funding of developments? l Planning / legal obligations l Aesthetics / building codes l Design of internal space & services / external space l Mixing of students / different student intakes l Marrying up with student experiences / lifecourses l Consultation with local communities l Knock-on effects upon wider housing / retail markets l Satisfaction levels of students l Management of students – e. g. anti-social behaviour / pastoral care l Cost to students & the wider ‘student package’ (top-up fees / appeals of university / location? ) l Student retention & recruitment

STUDENTIFICATION – CHANGING CONTEXTS n THE GENTRIFICATION OF STUDENT AREAS n THE DISPLACEMENT OF STUDENTS

STUDENTIFICATION – CHANGING CONTEXTS n DESTUDENTIFICATION Leeds l Coventry l Nottingham l