Studentification and Moral Panic: When is a ‘Student Area’ a ‘Student Ghetto’? Darren P. Smith

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

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

3. Empirical research: • 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) • 6 case studies • Australia • Melbourne, Hobart (March/April 06) • Ireland • Dublin, Galway, Cork (May/Aug 06) • Canada (Ontario / Quebec) • Kingston, Hamilton, Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City (June)

4. Part one: • Studentification in the UK: background

5. What is studentification? • Termed coined in 1999 • Urban change with the hallmarks of gentrification (Smith, 2002) • BBC Word of 2002 • Macmillan English Dictionary (2003) • ‘[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)

6. Working definition: Economic • Studentification involves: • 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 owner-occupation. • * Or purpose-built student accommodation and knock-on effects?

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

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

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

10. Student Numbers

13. Exaggeration?

14. Student concentrations: Ireland (source: 1996 and 2002 Irish census, using NIRSA interface)

15. Effects of studentification (What about emotions / experential dimensions?)

16. A Negative process! • ‘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).

17. A Negative process! • ‘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 first-time 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).

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

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

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

22. Studentification in an international context • The ‘Student Ghetto’ in Kingston

33. Perceptions of studentification in an international context • Carlton in Melbourne • Harmony between students and established residential community

42. Studentification and a changing context • Changing student populations & geographies • The ‘Growing Esteem’ vision (University of Melbourne, 2006) • 4 new student geographies: • 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

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