In this new series, The Applied Ecologist is amplifying the staff and student voices from the University of Surrey’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability to showcase their diverse, interdisciplinary body of work and to help inspire the next generation.
In this post, we share below this year’s BSc student’s experiences of their fieldtrip to South Wales, UK.
Meet Hannah, Hisham, Max and Oscar.
Hannah, Hisham, Max and Oscar are current BSc students on the Centre’s new BSc in Environment and Sustainability programme.
What have you been working on?
Urban regeneration are common occurrences found in nearly every City or Town across the world that has become urbanised at some point in its history, with areas of both often being found within one settlement. The City of Newport is part way through such regeneration developmental changes. There can be many indicators of regeneration, which can often be visually identifiable when travelling around the City or Town, making it an appropriate study activity to be carried out during our time in Newport. Example regeneration initiatives launched in Newport include the redevelopment of the riverfront, new shopping centers, and improved transportation infrastructure. Projects like Friars Walk shopping center and the University of South Wales campus have revitalised parts of the city.
Whilst on our recent fieldtrip to South Wales, we visited three locations in Newport town centre, where we conducted field observations and a participatory mapping workshop to explore the impacts of urban regeneration.
At each site photographs were taken of different areas of regeneration/degeneration, these photographs were then analysed to determine whether the area is regenerative/degenerative. The photos were further analysed to determine the potential wider social, environmental, economic impact these areas had towards Newport as a whole.
Secondly, we conducted an observation activity where at each instance of regeneration/degeneration we wrote notes on what we found. These notes included objects, the mood of the area and other senses e.g. smell. The geographical location of each of the observation points and the notes taken were then chartered onto a map of Newport. Different coloured dots were used to determine whether the observation point was regenerative or degenerative, this was done to determine whether there was any spatial correlation between the points.
Why is this project important?
What we learnt from our workshop was that although there were a few signs of degradation in areas such as the old shopping centre, the new shopping complex in this area has attracted transnational corporations (TNCs) such as River Island, JD, and H&M. The influx of well-known retail brands has not only rejuvenated the commercial landscape but also encouraged other developments, highlighting the positive impact of targeted urban regeneration initiatives on the local economy.
The social development in Newport has been significantly influenced by various regeneration initiatives, including the development of new housing projects and the construction of the new campus of the University of South Wales. There’s now a noticeable energetic youthful crowd near the university, shopping mall as well as facilities such as cinema and restaurant. Building confidence and setting the stage for future developments, the new campus and housing developments are also serving as potent catalysts for Newport’s broader urban regeneration as well as improving the quality of life for residents. Efforts have been made at both local and Governmental levels to aid in regenerating the city. A larger sense of social cohesion is also seen by connecting wider and remote communities. Furthermore, the project factors in individuals within the community by holding meetings everyone can attend, and even focus groups revealing how it isn’t a project purely ran at a Governmental level, it implores stakeholders, residents, and councils to build a better city together.
What are the future implications of your field project?
Overall, Newport’s urban regeneration shows the beneficial impact of targeted investments in commercial and residential projects, though ongoing efforts are needed to address the existing disparities. Specifically, Newport provides a compelling example of how targeted investments in residential and educational facilities can stimulate social and economic regeneration from the bottom up. Equally, as shown by our project’s findings, fostering a connection between players at all levels is a successful way of regenerating the city so that new social, economic, and environmental ceilings can be reached.
For more information
For more information about the new BSc programme in environment and sustainability, please go to https://www.surrey.ac.uk/undergraduate/environment-and-sustainability
