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Description
Heritage-led regeneration is often promoted as a pathway to sustainable and equitable urban transformation, yet its implementation frequently raises critical questions about whose heritage is being prioritized and to what ends. This paper examines these tensions through a critical analysis of the Seventeen Nineteen project in Sunderland, UK. The proposed renovation and conservation of this Grade I listed building—a former civic and religious hub—highlights the tensions between conserving historical significance and addressing the evolving needs of a post-industrial city like Sunderland. Positioned within a de-industrialized city, this case study offers a lens to examine how heritage is framed, funded, and operationalized in the context of economic decline and urban transformation.
The paper critiques the role of heritage as a neutral tool to promote economic and social regeneration. Led by the Churches Conservation Trust in partnership with Historic England, this regeneration initiative is part of Sunderland’s Heritage Action Zone (HAZ), which aims to stimulate regeneration through heritage-led development. Focused on the renovation and adaptive reuse of Holy Trinity Church (Seventeen Nineteen) in Sunderland’s East End, the project reflects broader tensions in heritage-led regeneration, particularly in how historical sites are repurposed to drive economic and social renewal in a post-industrial city. Key stakeholders, local authorities, and community groups, play a central role in shaping the project’s direction. Their varying interests reflect broader debates about the role of heritage in regeneration—whether as a means of economic revitalization, community engagement, or cultural preservation. By analysing these dynamics, this paper critically evaluates the ways in which heritage-led regeneration navigates competing priorities and the implications for urban change in post-industrial Sunderland.
I ask whether such heritage-led regeneration effectively address deeper socio-spatial inequalities or risk perpetuating exclusionary practices under the guise of cultural conservation. To do so, I draw on oral histories, policy analysis, and spatial studies, the paper interrogates how a heritage framework engages—or fails to engage—with the lived experiences, aspirations, and agency of diverse communities.
Challenging narratives that present heritage as inherently beneficial, this paper argues that regeneration must move beyond commodification and nostalgia to embrace practices rooted in justice, care, and inclusivity. Seventeen Nineteen is positioned not as a best practice but as a case study to critically evaluate the promises and pitfalls of heritage-led regeneration. The analysis reveals that while heritage is often framed as a driver of economic and social revitalization, its implementation can reinforce selective narratives, marginalize local voices, and prioritize market-driven objectives over community needs. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of rethinking the purpose, definition, and application of heritage to realise its transformative potential.
Keywords: Heritage-led regeneration, critical heritage studies, cultural landscapes, community agency.
Author: Gülnur Cengiz, Newcastle University, PhD
Email: g.cengiz2@ncl.ac.uk
Address: İstiklal Mah. Şair Nedim Sokak No: 15 A Blok Daire 26, Ümraniye, Istanbul, Türkiye
Phone: +90 534 423 8443
| Keywords | Heritage-led regeneration; critical heritage studies; cultural landscapes; community agency |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
