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Urban sustainability: mixed-use or mixed-messages?

This chapter focuses on mixed-use development in postindustrial cities. It is a core output of the Environment and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Sustainable Urban Environments Programme funded research project Vivacity2020 : Urban Sustainability and the 24 Hour City. The research was undertaken in collaboration between Cities Institute and UCL.

The empirical research (London, Sheffield and Manchester) is quantitative mapping of land use and socio-economic indicators using GIS and qualitative research of surveys and interviews of residents and businesses. Specific dimensions of new forms of mixed use were documented, which enabled exploration of quality of life issues arising from rapid change in urban form.

Following a critical review of influential models of urban development, the chapter argues that a muddled combination of these, plus Jane Jacob’s nostalgia for mixed urban streets, have supported a core element of the urban renaissance which assumes that high density, multiple use urban environments are necessary and desirable. Policy justification is grounded in loose notions of social and cultural diversity as well as urban sustainability. This chapter questions of the scale and scope of mixed use development as well as its spread throughout the UK. Core findings included the complexity of horizontal and vertical mixed use, the questionable economic viability of some developments, the changing location factors for local businesses and the changing quality of life for residents.

These findings were exhibited as 'Urban Village? Mixed-Use, Quality of Life and Urban Design', at London Architecture Biennale, (26th- 28th July 2004) and Living in the City international London Festival of Architecture (10-20 July 2008). They have been presented to UK policy forums, including TGDC, Urbis and BURA and contributed to international academic conference papers. The contribution to the Vivacity 2020 project provided the wider intellectual rationale for the appointment of two PhD students (Holliss and Robbins) and in one case (Holliss) an EPSRC Doctoral training award.