Work

Urbicide through developer-led neglect: Contested narratives of the Half-Bap redevelopment

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This paper explores the phenomenon of urbicide through developer-led neglect, examining the socio-political and economic factors that support aggressive redevelopment practices. We conceptualise urbicide by developer-led neglect as a strand of neoliberal urbicide that fails to deliver any redevelopment, drawing from the case study of the Half Bap in Belfast. We examine how the structures of power and influence have been represented by media, developers, and advertising, contrasting these narratives with the actual degradation of the area’s physical and social fabric. Using discourse analysis of media and planning meetings as well as interviews with locals, we highlight the asymmetry between developer discourse, media-promoted visions of urban renewal and the lived experience of locals. This paper aims to contribute to urban studies, by understanding the impact of developer-led neglect on the physical and social fabric of a city.

Source: Journal of Urban Affairs

DOI: 10.1080/07352166.2026.2733410

Authors: Agustina Martire, Anna Skoura, Aisling Madden

Institutions: Queen's University Belfast, University College Dublin

Language: English

Topic: Urban Planning and Governance

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Queen's University Belfast