Priced out: the backlash against gentrification
● Study reveals growing discontent as locals are priced out of living in the area and investment in public facilities is lacking
It has been named one of the hip pest neighbourhood sin Europe thanks to its fashionable cafés, bars, restaurants and events.
But a major report has revealed growing discontent in Lei th about locals being “priced out” of living and work in the area.
Growing concern about “asset-stripping” of publi cl and and facilities and “threats”to the Edinburgh waterfront area’ s character andidentity have emerged from a Scottish Governmentbacked study.
The six-month project, which involved more than 3,000 Leithers, found mounting concern over the pace and scale of change taking place in the area, with “overloaded” services under pressure from a wave of housebuilding.
According to the report, many Leither sand neighbourhoods who took par t in the process felt new developments were exclusive, had stagnatedor were“ill- conceived and badly executed ”. Other key concerns include poor public access to Leith’s sea front, the lack of investment in facilities like the old Lei th Theatre building, the impact of growing numbers of student housing develop - ments and short- term letting on existing neighbourhoods.
A feeling of “disempowerment” was also reported during there search for the study, whichfound that although Leit hers had a strong and proud sense of identity and belonging, they felt there was a “lack of urgency and are concerned about the future”.
Work on the Lei th Blueprint began shortly after the area was saidto be the second cool est in the, UK after An coat sin Manchester and Finnieston, in Glasgow, the latter of which has undergone a huge transformation since the Hydro arena opened in 2013.
The Leith Creative network staged 18 different events and also conducted online and face-to-face surveys for the £ 46,000 project, which was also funded by Edinburgh City Council and Creative Scotland. It recommends the creation of a new development trust to help safeguard historic buildings and community assets.
The report stated: “We recognise this blueprint comes at a time not only of great opportunity for our community, but also of great difficulty.
“Traditional systems of power are changing, our public services are stretched, our civic resources are declining and for many individuals and neighbourhoods, development has been exclusive, has stagnated or has been ill- conceived and badly executed.
“The financial crash and subsequent economic downturn in 2007-8 changed the trajectory of Leith’s spacial development. The area incre asingly became knownas an attractive alternative space to live and work. Now that the local economy has stabilised and is experiencing growth, Leith residents old and new are noticing the rise of prop - erty prices and an intensification of development, rapidly pricing many out of the area.
“As land and property prices continue to rise, buildings are demolished and gap sites filled, local communities, creative businesses and grassroots culture are all impacted. It is the pace of development that is most palpable, generating uncertainty about the area.”
Duncan Bremner, co- found- er of Leith Creative, said: “We had already identified from our previous work that Leith is an incredibly creative area.
“We also know that the area has some significant and longterm generational problems, that can’t simply be solved by a short- term project. However, given Leith’s significant creative capacity, and with increasing community empowerment legislation on the horizon, it looks like we may have the ability to change things.”
Mor vern Cunningham, director of the Leith Late festival, who also led the project, said: “We’d like to build on the work we’ve done to date, to ensure Leith continues to harness its creative potential for the collective good of everyone in the community.”