PLEASE HELP an A-Level Geogrpahy student by completing a survey on regeneration and gentrification on Green Lanes

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ruben on January 2, 2026 at 22:15

m&S and Thornton's were anecdotal. I understand the difference between residential and commercial, also the impact of online on the high street.

My understanding of gentrification -which you use repeatedly while criticising my lack of understanding, and yet fail to define or substantiate- is the attraction of more affluent residents to an area. This is observed through two measures that go hand in hand: increase of average property values (compared to similar areas) and attraction of higher end retailers (restaurants). 

This is of consequence, nobody pays more to live in an area with a (comparably) decaying high street.

While property prices rallied for a short while in the area, I don't think this is the case anymore.

My points remain. I fail to see any demonstrable proof of gentrification or of regeneration.

I don't mean to be an AH and I will happily stand corrected, just not dismissed.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Christopher Fowler on January 2, 2026 at 23:52

The high street in Wood Green is not decaying. It is adjusting, rather slowly, to the change in shopping habits. In the light of less purchase of goods, replaced by buying online, it is heavily over-shopped, and premises are being converted to other uses. This is happening all over Britain. The high street, the town centre, are changing from a place to buy goods to a place for cinema, theatre, restaurants, cafes, etc. This change is seen in the Harringay Green Lanes area, where over time down-market uses are being replaced by more up-market vendors and eateries. Of course, given the number and the dominance of Turkish/Cypriot/Near Eastern people, there continue to be a superfluity of restaurants for those cuisines. But other kinds of eateries are moving in. I think an examination of property values in the area would show a higher rise in values than areas already gentrified, like Crouch End, Hornsey. If you read what I have posted, you can see that there is no disagreement between your definition and mine. We only disagree on our perceptions of changes in the area. You see signs of decay, or stasis; I see signs of improvement. There is no cause for argument over differences in perception. If my comments seemed dismissive, it was not my intention.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ruben 14 hours ago

Hi Theresa,

I am not sure if this will help you, I am more of a quantitative than qualitative person. In previous lives in both retail and hospitality sectors, we used a set of data called CACI, which classifies people in 18 categories (ACORN).

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quality-assurance-of-admin...

We used this demographics to assess the suitability of different areas for our venues (we had a market profile for our target consumers, we sought areas which concentrated a high proportion of our target groups).

If you can get your hands on old and new data, you could (on a really broad brush approach) quantify which percentage of population is in groups 1-2-3 vs 4-5-6 in specific wards. If you see a change, you can prove or disprove gentrification in a way which is much more accurate than just looking at average property prices.

I have a document from 2010 if you are interested, but I cannot share it publicly as it is commercially sensitive information. Please reach out via DM.

An alternative option could be looking at available government data (https://deprivation.communities.gov.uk/) which seems to have datasets for 2015 and 2019. You might be able to infer gentrification by a reduction in deprivation.

Hopefully this is constructive, I appreciate that A-level might not require the same degree of seriousness as real commercial uses, but if your future interests lay in this, it should be of general interest at least.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page