Waterfront Regeneration in the Historic Port of Leith: the Challenges of Maintaining Authenticity on an Urban Scale
Date
11/2009Author
Hickman, Amy
Metadata
Abstract
This paper looks at the regeneration process in the historic Port of Leith in Edinburgh over
the past thirty years, with the goal of evaluating how the authenticity of the heritage values
of the area have been affected. The evaluation is based on ‘before’ and ‘after’ analyses of
the waterfront area which document the historical, aesthetic, morphological, economic, and
social characteristics of the area, before and after regeneration. The results of the
regeneration initiatives are evaluated with respect to area conservation theory and within
the context of other relevant examples of waterfront regeneration in historic port cities
around the world. It is found that regeneration in Leith has thus far taken a slightly
superficial approach in an attempt to attract high-value uses, investors, and visitors. While
this has enhanced the aesthetic and environmental value of the area and retained
substantial amounts of historic fabric and patterns, it has also led to the inauthentic
expression of some historical associations and a significant change in the social and
economic character of the area.