Student blog: urban regeneration at Salford Quays

All students in Thirds recently enjoyed a geographical fieldwork investigation day at Salford Quays. 

The aim of the day was to investigate the issue of urban regeneration, as well as develop and improve fieldwork skills. 

Thanks to Barney Pritchard (3WER) who wrote the following report on the trip, reflecting on the changes in the area over the decades, and the causes of these, as well as what he learned about regeneration during the day:

Our trip to Salford Quays was fascinating, not only to learn about the effect of globalisation on ports like Manchester Docks (now Salford Quays) but also to see first-hand the differences between the Quays and the surrounding areas.

It doesn’t take long to walk out of the town centre but as soon as you do, the atmosphere is so different. The story of the former Manchester Docks is captivating, from its days as the largest inland port in the world to decades of neglect and, finally, as the home of MediaCity UK and other landmarks.

Walking around the Quays gave us a unique insight into the rich history that we couldn’t have gained in the classroom. In addition, Mrs Aldridge’s enthralling geographical nuggets and telling of the incredible story of the area really helped to elevate everyone’s geographical knowledge.

I found it particularly interesting how quickly the city centre trickles in quiet residential areas. I didn’t expect it from a place that has essentially been swallowed by one the UK’s largest cities, Manchester.

As we continued on our tour, I certainly was inferring things from the history of the area even though they hadn’t been explicitly said. That’s how steeped with geo-history this area really is.

Once we were back in the classroom, the data we collected reinforced the ideas we had formed. We also observed how the proportional circles for the three transects show how the landscape changes from bustling city centre to quiet urban areas on one end, and then to neglected brownfield sites on the other.

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It was also interesting to see how it actually brought some new ideas to the table especially with regard to the decline of the area in the 1950s and 1960s. I think the huge loss of work perfectly encapsulates what happened during a period of global shift in the UK, especially when you consider that in 1970, 8.6 million people worked in manufacturing but the number had dropped to 3.6 million in 2016.

A huge thank you to Mrs Aldridge and the Geography Department for organising the trip!