Wembley Park: Experiences of Community and Belonging


Sara Rodriguez, Birkbeck, University of London

In an era of third-way governance, private housing developers are increasingly tasked with the construction of core social and community services. Contracts between local governments and developers frequently stipulate delivery of key social impact indicators, such as greater employment, health services, educational institutions, and community centres. Amenities previously provided by state agencies are now outsourced to developers. In certain cases, these same developers continue on as managers - directly or indirectly – exercising control over services types and terms of access. Where developers’ interests shape the provision of services, barriers to social engagement can arise, calling into question how and for whom social goods are provided. This presentation will consider the presence and absence of social engagement in the neighbourhood of Wembley Park, London. Wembley Park is the UK’s largest new-build housing development. To date, a single majority landowner is responsible for nearly all key services and amenities in the area, including the sole community centre and the majority of build-to-rent housing. This exploratory research will provide an overview of the Wembley Park redevelopment project and present findings from interviews with local residents and business owners. This research involved traditional, semi-structured interviews and walk-along interviews with residents and service providers. Adopting a Lefebvrian positionality, the aim of this presentation is to identify patterns of amenity and service provision by interrogating systematic and systemic barriers to social engagement, including between insiders (those with access to ‘club goods’) and outsiders (existing community members and non-residents). Whether physical or technological, access conditions put in place during the redevelopment process are shown to at best hinder and at worst prohibit belonging, community organisation, and involvement. Physical as well as social disjunctions exist, whether through resident selection (imposed or self), or through the construction of barriers between the new development and the existing neighbourhood. In turn, by conspicuous absence, developer-directed engagement illuminates the disjunction between the agenda of planners and developers and the nuanced needs of everyday communities. Whilst housing contacts are available on-site, resident-provider communication occurs primarily through mobile app-mediated interactions. Whilst London guidelines require a minimum percentage of low-cost housing, new build developments are not held to account and post-construction audits are not conducted. Furthermore, the Wembley Park research area presents an ideal case study to assess the inclusivity of current affordable homes policy. Situated in a low- to medium-income area, new-build ‘affordable’ housing exceeds local incomes, challenging standard definitions of affordability. Reduced tenure and market tenure homes are fully-mixed, yet social housing is not. Given the above conditions, this presentation will cover much ground, offering insights into both the cultural and policy agendas. As this is a PhD presentation, this work is in progress. Preliminary findings will be provided as well as plans for future analysis. This work is situated within the field of critical housing / critical urban studies, and the sociological elements make it a good fit for the Cultural Sociologies of Housing session. 

This paper will be presented at the following session: