Changing Fortunes of the inner city

Many inner city areas have the reputation of being in depressing places in which change has usually meant decline and decay.

The inner city really stated life In the 19th century suburbs built around historic cores. Terraced houses were built often close to factories where many residents found work. The first decline in the fortunes of the inner city started in the first half of the 20th century. Many people and businesses moved out to new homes and premises in the new suburbs. This outward movement left behind empty buildings and dwellings occupied by poor families who could not afford to move to he suburbs.

The inner city was left to decay until the 1960s when redevelopment began to take place. Old building were bulldozed and replaced with high rise tower blocks.

Experiences in living in high rise flats

• Walking up 15 floors when the lift is broken
• Fear of walking along the dark concrete balconies at night
• Worrying about children playing outside, ten floors below
• Using lifts which smell
• No sense of community 
• Nearby shops have closed down

In the 20th century, the wealthier people abandoned their inner city, leavin behind a residue of poor households. In many cities, the tower blocks eventually demolished. Adding to the decline was deindustrialisation. Factories were abandoned and large areas laid waste only to become dumpin grounds for rubbish. The stock of brownfield sites become huge. An increasing amout of social unrest and crime among those people unable to move out. 

Some of the inner city brownfield sites are now being used for the construction of expensive housing. Areas of the original 19th century housing that survived the bulldozer are undergoing gentrification. The inner city is on the up. It's becoming the 'cool' place to live. Much money is being invested by developers to improve the services and environmental quality of quite large areas.