Social Infrastructure in Granby/Toxteth: A contemporary socio-cultural and historical study of the builkt environment and community in 'L8'

THIS REPORT PRESENTS the results of research conducted in 1997, investigating the problems associated with the nature and quality of housing and social infrastructure provision in the Granby/Toxteth neighbourhood of Liverpool. It provides a preliminary analysis of what will later be developed into a more detailed study of the problems associated with inner-city housing and related social infrastructure provision for minority residents in inner-city areas in England.

The key hypothesis of the study is that: "…ethnic minority communities suffer a unique and disproportionate disadvantage in most aspects of public housing and social infrastructure provision in inner cities.” The research concentrated on the Liverpool “black” community (used to describe the inner-city population resident in certain postcode areas of south Liverpool), with the aim of investigating what factors led to the creation of a distinct ethno-social and spatial context of infrastructure provision in the city. Other objectives of the study included:
·a better understanding of the relationship between built amenities (such as educational facilities and health centres) and housing, and an improvement in the quality of life in inner-city neighbourhoods;
·an identification of factors which ensure the success of certain local organizations in gaining access to scarce funding resources for local infrastructure development provision;
·a better insight into residents’ and institutions’ views on the Granby/Toxteth neighbourhood and its current renovation;
·a critical analysis of the real and perceived barriers facing inner-city minority groups’ involvement in the negotiations and planning relating to the long-term inner-city renewal schemes; and
·government policy requirements which would positively stimulate the development of successful housing and regeneration schemes in inner-city areas.

The hypothesis and the exploration of these issues form the core of the report, presented in three key sections. The first constitutes an in-depth analysis of the past history and contemporary state of housing and social infrastructure provision in the Granby/Toxteth area, highlighting the transient nature of the neighbourhood and the impact this has had on various residents and their relationship with the physical environment. The second section presents an analysis of the local and national policies which have influenced housing and social infrastructure provision in the neighbourhood, including a discussion of the views of present and past residents, key players and service providers in Granby and the Greater Toxteth area. The concluding section provides a critical analysis of the validity of the hypothesis and the success of the report in providing stated aims and objectives. The report includes photographs, drawings and maps relating to the Granby/Toxteth area, and will be of interest and relevance to anyone concerned with the significance of social infrastructure in today’s multi-ethnic city.