In simple terms, gentrification is the migration of a higher socio-economic class of people into an area that traditionally housed those from a lower socio-economic class background. Across the UK, the more inner-city you go, the higher the influx of more affluent people you’ll find, encouraged by job and investment opportunities, amenities, convenience, and everything in-between. If you know Bristol, think about how Easton, Bedminster, St Pauls etc. are changing and you have an idea of gentrification already.

Although there are sometimes “positives” that result from gentrification, such as lower crime rates, cleaner areas, regenerated buildings, the bad always outweighs the good. It necessarily always has done so since it was first conceived in the early 60s by Islington sociologist Ruth Glass.

The phenomenon is mostly caused by the affordable housing endemic that our country faces, and results in social ills such as: homelessness, which is set to increase by a 1/3rd by 2024 (66,000 more people than today – ref.1); unaffordable exclusion zones or “exclusionary displacement” (ref.2); the direct displacement of social housing residents (ref.3); cultural alienation that leads to residents moving away (ref.4), increased inequality and much else besides.

Bristol was the 5th most expensive place to live in the UK last year (Zoopla), and the uncivilized statistics above increasingly plague our city due to private developer greed, neoliberal government policies and inept politicians.

Come along and hear:

★ Personal testimonials witnessing the change in St Pauls – Lawrence Hoo (poet)
★ Bristol as part of the national picture – Vicky Spratt (i’s Housing Correspondent; author Tenants: Stories of Britain’s Housing Shame)
★ The role that social housing can play – Matthew Buckham (Communities Director, Sovereign Housing)
★ How is Bristol fighting back? – Cllr. Tom Renard (Bristol’s Cabinet Member for Housing)
★ and speakers from the Stokes Croft Land Trust

With questions and discussion then being opened to the floor/discussion panellists.

Event by BristolGentrification.
Chaired by Henry Palmer, author of Voices of Bristol: Gentrification & Us (2019)

Actions from the event:
★ Donations for PRSC / support PRSC in other way (suggestions tbc)
★ Join a union (with suggestions and how tbc)
★ Vote for the right policies/sign and share petitions lobbying your local representative (with suggestions tbc)