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Uncovering Inclusivity in London’s Inner City: A Historical Analysis of Diversity and Its Relation to Gentrification in Brixton

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Diversity of Urban Inclusivity

Part of the book series: International Perspectives in Geography ((IPG,volume 20))

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Abstract

This chapter will depict an outline of the inclusivity of Brixton, an ethnically mixed inner city of London, and suggest some aspects of inclusivity that was developed due to the historical context and the social and spatial diversity and is maintained by charity groups. Whilst Brixton has gained a bad reputation because of inner city problems and the riots in 1981, now it is known as an area that is the epitome of gentrification. Focusing on these historic events and the transformation, I argue that these elements generate the environment and actors that accept people who have been put in a variety of circumstances including immigrants, low-income people and people with social disadvantages. Through this examination, I want to make this text a handle on the theory of inclusivity of urban spaces.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    London (Greater London Authority), the capital of the UK, is comprised of 33 basic municipalities that include the City of London, the City of Westminster and other 31 Boroughs. One of these 33 basic municipalities is Lambeth, and this paper focuses on Brixton which locates on the eastern side of central Lambeth. In term of using Brixton in this chapter, it indicates the district that is the combination of the following 5 wards: Brixton Hill, Coldharbour, Herne Hill, Ferndale and Tulse Hill.

  2. 2.

    The Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (War Restrictions) Act 1915.

  3. 3.

    Somerleyton Road is shown in Fig. 1, but Geneva Road isn’t shown because it no longer exists today by the redevelopment of this area.

  4. 4.

    Approximately 150 maps of war damage are collected in Ward (2015) Bomb Damaged Maps.

  5. 5.

    London Datastore “Ward Atlas Data—Ethnic Group 18 groups—2011 Census” in Ward Profiles and Atlas.

  6. 6.

    London Datastore “GLA SHLAA Trend based Population Projection data, released in March 2013”.

  7. 7.

    London Datastore “Ward population estimates by single year of age”.

  8. 8.

    London Datastore “Ward Atlas Data—Tenure of households—2011 Census” in Ward Profiles and Atlas.

  9. 9.

    Transport for London “Entry and exit figures by station from 2007”.

  10. 10.

    As of 2020, the redevelopment project of Loughborough Park Estate has been completed.

  11. 11.

    London Datastore “Ward Atlas Data—Tenure of households—2001 & 2011 Census” in Ward Profiles and Atlas.

  12. 12.

    When doing field studies in London from September to November of 2016, the author visited St. Paul’s Church the base of NBF’s activities (Visited on November 1st, 2016).

  13. 13.

    The founder’s statement from an interview survey conducted by the present author on the founder at BSK’s base of operations in Coldharbour Lane (visit on September 20th, 2016).

  14. 14.

    Cf. Footnote 12.

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Correspondence to Takuma Matsuo .

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Matsuo, T. (2023). Uncovering Inclusivity in London’s Inner City: A Historical Analysis of Diversity and Its Relation to Gentrification in Brixton. In: Mizuuchi, T., Kornatowski, G., Fukumoto, T. (eds) Diversity of Urban Inclusivity. International Perspectives in Geography, vol 20. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8528-7_14

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