Research with existing residents of the Thames Gateway

• They felt the capacity of public services and infrastructure to cope with growth was inadequate, and they believed that only new residents would benefit from any improvements such as new facilities and services.
• They did not think they would benefit from improved housing choices in their local area.
• They felt that only new residents would be able to access new homes.
• They felt that housing growth was likely to take up accessible green space in and around existing settlements.
• They were sceptical about the likelihood of any new employment opportunities being available to them.
• Existing residents expressed very negative attitudes towards prospective new residents, with some people expressing racist opinions and an expectation that new and existing residents would not integrate.

Source: Gateway People, The aspirations and attitudes of prospective and existing residents of the Thames Gateway. ippr (2006)

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