Disrupting the Speculative City: People vs Haringey Development Vehicle (Urban Studies and Social Policy April Seminar)
In this talk, Joe Penny will present the findings of Disrupting the Speculative City, a book he co-authored with Dr Amy Horton. The ‘Haringey Development Vehicle’ (HDV), a speculative joint venture between the local council and the international developer Lendlease, was scrapped by the local council in 2018. as a result of the political creativity, tactical nous and extraordinary commitment of ordinary people. The book tells the story of how a community coalition defeated one of the most ambitious programmes of state-led gentrification in London that was set to ‘terraform’ Tottenham from a diverse working-class place to a space for wealthy investors, residents and consumers.
Urban Studies and Social Policy 'Social Sciences Hub'
Date: Wednesday 30 April 2025
Time: 15:30 - 17:00
Venue: 386AB, Adam Smith Business School
Category: Public lectures, Academic events, Staff workshops and seminars
Speaker: Joe Penny
Urban Studies and Social Policy April Seminar
Abstract: In this talk, Joe Penny will present the findings of Disrupting the Speculative City, a book he co-authored with Dr Amy Horton. The book tells the story of how a community coalition defeated one of the most ambitious programmes of state-led gentrification in London that was set to ‘terraform’ Tottenham from a diverse working-class place to a space for wealthy investors, residents and consumers. Known as the ‘Haringey Development Vehicle’ (HDV), this project would have been executed through an undemocratic and speculative joint venture between the local council and the notorious international developer Lendlease. But thanks to the political creativity, tactical nous and extraordinary commitment of ordinary people, the HDV was scrapped by the local council in 2018. Drawing on the accounts of those at the heart of the struggle and analysing crucial developments in property investment, local statecraft and grassroots organising, this talk will explore a significant and inspirational success for campaigners in London, where social cleansing has become the default outcome of redevelopment.
Bio: Joe Penny is Associate Professor in Global Urbanism at the UCL Urban Laboratory. Joe’s research explores London’s spatio-political transformations in the context of austerity urbanism, financialization and rentierism. Focusing on the local state as a key site of struggle, Joe’s work seeks to support grassroots campaigns and coalitions in building towards more socially and ecologically just urban futures.