Peripheral estate decline and planning : a critical analysis of housing policy in Glasgow

Milne, Leslie (1979) Peripheral estate decline and planning : a critical analysis of housing policy in Glasgow. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis is an attempt to fill a gap, from an academic point of view, in the rather neglected subject of post-war peripheral council housing development in Britain, and in Glasgow in particular* It is divided into three sections entitled "Construction"; "Decline" and "Re-planning and Revitalisation", respectively, representing three phases in the evolution of such estates. In Part One (Chapters One and Two) the historic importance of council housing in Glasgow is traced particularly with respect to the relationship between industrial development and housing. In Chapter One, emphasis is laid on the contradictions associated with industrial expansion and allocation of council houses to particular sections of the population. The spatial manifestations of such differentiations have implications for choice in a city-wide housing context today. Chapter Two is concerned to a lesser extent with industry, and more with ideological issues associated with the decision to build the peripheral estates, particularly central and local political motives and contemporary planning arguments. Part Two (Chapter Three) deals with the physical decline of peripheral estates since their construction with respect to (a) Latent effects of variables outlined in Part One and (b) Issues associated with implications of rising unemployment; weakening fiscal base; child population growth; allocation policy; socio-economic imbalance and the reputation for violence and other anti-social behaviour. On this basis, a sociological casual theory of decline in peripheral estates is suggested for possible hypothesis testing in the future. Part Three (Chapters Four and Five) attempts to utilise the ideas set out in Parts One and Two to criticise recent policy approaches operated by the District Council to deal with peripheral estate problems, and to suggest some possibilities for more sensitive solutions and additions to the current strategy. Among the major criticisms are a weak theoretical and methodological base with which to define problems and therefore attempt remedial planning. The suggestions are made that a more even distribution of responsibility within the corporate structure is necessary; that equal emphasis be paid to the large rehousing inter-war tenement stock throughout the city as well as the introduction of unorthodox sociological and psychological. planning approaches to deal with an issue of long-standing complexity.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences
• Supervisor's Name: McDonald, Miss Sheila
• Date of Award: 1979
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1979-83931
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 19 Oct 2023 15:15
• Last Modified: 20 Oct 2023 10:21
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.83931
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/83931