Heritage and entrepreneurial urbanism: unequal economies, social exclusion, and conservative cultures

This article articulates an argument observed in the voices of key stakeholders in Bath, Edinburgh, and York, in conversations with the literature, whereby heritage-led entrepreneurial urbanism practices lead to cultures that are conservative in nature. Consequently, such historic cities are less able to overcome inherent social challenges around unequal economies, high house prices, and the resulting exclusion. Through using locally controlled resources to encourage a more spatially fixed and equal economy, however, historic cities may reduce these social challenges and encourage the more progressive and vibrant cultures that will allow them to engage with the environmental challenges faced by all.