By Sarah Blandy and Diane Lister, 2003
Gated Communities are becoming increasingly common across England, yet very little is known about the impact these developments have upon the residents of the wider community or those within the confines of the gates. This paper draws on empirical research carried out in a gated community in the north of England and explores community values and social ties amongst the gated residents in addition to their legal rights and responsibilities contained in their lease. The data suggests that gated residents’ rights and responsibilities are, by and large, confined to legalities and management functions within the development and do not extend to a commitment to enhance social networks either within the development or in the adjacent wider community. The paper concludes that this form of living with a strong legal regime, close monitoring of behaviour and weakening of social ties inevitably has far reaching implications for community cohesion.
