Gated Communities essay PDF

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‘Discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of gated communities as a form of
urban development. How should urban policy-makers respond to gated developments?’ ...

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‘Discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of gated communities as a form of urban development. How should urban policy-makers respond to gated developments?’!

According to Atkinson and Flint (2004), a gated community is “a walled or fenced housing development to which public access is restricted, often guarded using CCTV and/or security personnel” (p.876) created with the aim to rejuvenate an area, often consequently removing or creating a hostile community. There are “1,000 gated communities within the UK (in 2003/2004)” (Atkinson and Flint, 2004) including many such as Wentworth, Surrey which is often perceived as a prestige area self-segregated from the rest of society through class and lifestyle. This raises questions of how policy-makers should respond to the needs of society while balancing them with those in gated communities. !

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Gated communities also viewed as “fortress communities” (Minton, 2002) can provide many advantages, mainly for those living inside the protective walls. Bow Quarter, East London is an example, where the population including many famous faces such as Katy B, are a “socially integrated community” (Rice, 2004) living in a content residency, with some claiming that they “know more people living here than I would do in a normal street” (Rice, 2004). The population living within Bow Quarter in the 733 properties (Bow Quarter, 2014) are able to share community facilities such as sports and leisure centres, nurseries, parks and open green spaces. These areas are described as being “peaceful, quiet, litter and graffiti free” (Rice, 2004) creating a desirable place to live by affluent individuals where most resources are located within the gated walls. Additionally, as the gated community is maintained by cleaners, gardeners and decorators it is evident that most gated communities can be advantageous for sustainability as they are well cared for locations, influencing development in the future, highlighting benefits for urban policy-makers responding to gated areas. !

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Within the gated walls, most fortress communities including Bow Quarter and Wentworth Surrey have high security including cameras and patrollers illustrating the appeal for a safe and secure location to live in. Bow Quarter is located in Tower Hamlets, where in 2012-2013 it was recorded that there were “1,440 robberies and 2,777 car thefts” (Office for Neighbourhood Statistics, 2012-2013) conveying that although Bow Quarter is surrounded by areas of high crime rates, the gated communities crime is microscopic in comparison. This ultimately presents Bow Quarter as a tranquil place to live, furthermore highlighting the advantages of living in a gated community. However, recent statistics from a residential survey of Bow Quarter show that safety is only rated 6.9% out of 10 (Bow Quarter Residents Survey, 2014) by occupiers of the development suggesting that although the gated area may be locked away from the rest of society, there still may be some crime inside. This conveys that although most gated communities are presented as areas of decreased crime rates they may not be completely free from incidents such as robbery or assault, suggesting that it may be just as safe to live outside the gates than inside depending on the location of the gated community. Thus, urban policy-makers must consider the surrounding areas and create neighbourhoods that will benefit the whole of society through minimising crime instead of allowing residents of gated communities to remove themselves from this.!

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Through living in a gated community there are many other advantages such as living in a private residency, exclusive to affluent families and individuals. This luxury can be seen as highly desirable as those who can afford to live in developments such as Wentworth, Surrey are able to live with other residents of high society with advantages such as golf courses nearby for leisure use. This choice of lifestyle away from the rest of the general public can also help to keep an area in very good condition, heightening the value of the gated community in comparison to the less well kept areas outside the walls. However, some gated developments open to the public, like Spitalfields Market, East London are also kept dirt-free, showing that public sites too can appeal to high end customers. The original site of the Spitalfields Market has been regenerated through gentrification projects, consequently adding gates to the site which is open to the public between 10am-5pm (Wellington Market Company Plc, 2015). The newly gated area has 1,000 licensed stalls selling a range of high quality products such as leather bags, coats and jewellery, as well as being surrounded by upmarket restaurants. Although the area may be open to all social groups, the

majority of visitors are wealthy, suggesting that one can still live a lifestyle of luxury without being within a confined housing location such as a gated community.!

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However, the Spitalfields Market development also highlights the inequality and lack of affordability for lower-income individuals. As a result, these gated developments may lead to social segregation due to prejudice against groups who cannot afford the luxuries as well as “detachment from mainstream society” (Minton, 2002). This may not only be physically behind the gated walls but also politically, consequently increasing levels of social exclusion, failing to take advantage of local and diverse communities. Additionally, through the loss of kinship networks and local community groups there may be an increased stigmatisation of those living outside the gated walls as criminals and a threat to their untroubled community, thus creating “a culture of fear” (Minton, 2002). This elite and naive perception from the “withdrawn” (Blandy, 2007) upon society may be seen by urban policy-makers as a hugely negative impact of gated communities as it creates a large imbalance in the population living both in and around a gated environment. Consequently for urban policy-makers, targeting crime and minimising social judgement in urban developments may construct a more united community, encouraging those wishing to live in gated communities to reconsider. !

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Another disadvantage of creating gated developments is the socio-economic impact of housing and the effect on the affordability of the surrounding area. It is highly likely that if an extensive area of land is used as a gated fortress, the local realm may be of value and therefore appeal to gentrification projects and businesses. As a result, the residential housing and gentrified buildings will increase the value of property, consequently forcing out the local population who originated in the area prior to development. This devaluation of property outside the gated community further impacts the local population, such as those surrounding Bow Quarter as they are less able to buy their own property and must rent in other cheaper locations, illustrated by the fact “48% of residents inside the gates are home owners, compared to only 3% outside” (Rice, 2004). Although this may be a strong disadvantage, some may argue that for those living in gated communities there are maintenance costs for living within the development, which can be large sums however, often developments such as those in the United States do not have to pay taxes, consequently “undermining local democracy” (Minton, 2002).!

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Additional to the socio-economic impact created by gated communities there are also environmental issues arising. The removal of large open spaces, as well as social spaces used for by diverse cultures illustrates the spatially restricting nature of gated developments. For example, roads are often blocked off for use of the minority, with alternative routes for the population not living within the gated area. As well as creating an awareness of the “self-removal” (Minton, 2002) of the gated residents, there is also a sense of selfishness and lack of compassion towards others and the environment they are influencing while they live in their gated communities, “well insulated from the city around them” (Bridge & Watson, 2008). For urban policy-makers this misuse of the land may be a key concern as housing large populations while considering the environment is a problem. Although those inside the gated community are catered for, the surrounding area may be unfairly treated and even neglected. Therefore when building gated communities, it may be best suited spatially to build or redevelop areas with less mixed land uses surrounding it as to minimise disturbance for all, both inside and outside the gated community.!

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With such a large proportion of people living within gated communities and “4 million in the United States” (Bridge & Watson, 2008) it could be recognised that there could be a largely skewed perception of reality from the residents. This may be the case within the gated community of “Thana Housing Complex, North of Bombay” (Global 3000, 2009), India where within the fences there are onsite facilities for all, including doctors surgeries, shops, schools and community centres. The site also provides “tennis courts, swimming pools and green lawns instead of bustling traffic” (Global 3000, 2009) allowing children to play and adults carefree living, “free from poverty” (Global 3000, 2009) in the surrounding slums. Although this may seem an idilic way of living with the complex “advertised as selling dreams, not apartments” (Global 3000, 2009) by Hiranandani real estate developers, the isolation may lead to anxiety or fear of leaving the gated

area with some only taking visits “once a month” (Global 3000, 2009). Although it may be advantageous to live in a gated development like the Thana Housing Complex, for safety purposes, it does not change the deprivation surrounding and almost promotes the neglect of the rest of society who unable to provide for their families and future. !

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Developers of the site however, claim that as “the government may not be able to afford to develop areas” (Global 3000, 2009) surrounding the gated community, they can and will further improve infrastructure and urban development. Although this may benefit the community within the gates, the slum around are still in highly deprived areas. Outside the walls, the workers of those living in the gated community are poorly paid, earning up to thirty-eight euro per month, regarded as “cheap labour” (Global 3000, 2009) by the rich living within the housing complex. Consequently, for an urban policy-maker this would cause major conflict as this demonstrates how the gap between rich and poor can widen through the building of community developments. Furthermore, although many residents are “proud” (Global 3000, 2009) to live inside the “comfort zone” (Global 3000, 2009) of the Thana Housing Complex, the inequality through poor pay and exploitation of the staff creates an elitism similar to that within other gated communities including Bow Quarter from which it could be similarly argued that residents believe that “the middle class has a right to isolate themselves from the general population” (Global 3000, 2009). This greater emphasises the divide between working and upper class through gated communities which ultimately fragments social relations.!

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To conclude, for urban policy-makers influencing the future of urban areas through housing, recreational activities, job provisions and aiming to create an overall satisfying location to live in (American Planning Association, 2015), it can be difficult to assure that developments will meet the needs of all in society. Although, the majority of the UK live outside of gated communities, the requirements of the minority are also important. It is clear however, that those living in gated developments receive the most benefits from the gated areas e.g swimming pools and open green spaces, suggesting that they may only be available for privileged and wealthy populations, consequently neglecting others. However, it seems that a key factor determining whether gated communities are beneficial is their spatial location. Thus, gated communities may provide a safer location to live, avoiding poverty such as that in Bombay, where “up to 1,000 people share one toilet” (Global 3000, 2009). Nevertheless, building large gated communities in low rise areas to “western standards” (Global 3000, 2009) may be the wrong choice by urban policy-makers as they should build to create equality and sustainability instead of removing the character and atmosphere within a location. !

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Bibliography: !

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American Planning Association (2015) Becoming an Urban Planner [Online] Available from: https:// www.planning.org/ncpm/pdf/UrbanPlannerExcerpt.pdf!

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Atkinson. R & Flint. J (2004) Fortress UK? Gated Communities, the Spatial Revolt of the Elites and Time-Space Trajectories of Segregation, Housing Studies Vol. 19, Glasgow, UK, Carfax Publishing!

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Blandy. S (2007) Gated communities in England as a response to crime and disorder, People, ! Place and Policy Online !

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Bow Quarter (2014) The Bow Quarter Fact Sheet [Online] Available from: http:// www.thebowquarter.co.uk/factSheets/Information%20for%20sols%20leaflet%20February %202014.pdf!

! Bridge. G and Watson S (2008) A companion to the city, Oxford, Blackwell Publishing ! !

Global 3000 (2009) Protected Fortresses What Makes Gated Communities so Popular? [Online Video] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYBDLOKQ0MM!

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Minton. A (2002) Building balanced communities, the US and UK compared, RICS Leading Edge Series!

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Office for Neighbourhood Statistics (2012-2013) Neighbourhood Statistics [Online] Available from: www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/!

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Rice. A (2004) Gates and Ghettoes: A tale of two Britains? BBC News [Online] Thursday,18 March. Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/if/3513980.stm!

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Wellington Market Company Plc (2015) Old Spitalfields Market [Online] Available from: http:// www.oldspitalfieldsmarket.com/the-market!

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