This paper asks whether the term 'gentrification' could be applied to describe processes of urban regeneration taking place in East Manchester. The eastern side of Manchester was ravaged by the effects of deindustrialisation and was consequently identified as one of the most deprived areas in Britain in the 1990s. Now, this area is undergoing a radical

transformation to re-brand it under a single banner, 'New East Manchester'. The paper explores both the appropriateness of using 'gentrification' as an analytical concept as well as the extent to which it may offer further insight into wider processes of social change and class in Britain today. It asks if approaches to gentrification are broad enough in scope to encompass the complexities of class in processes of regeneration. The paper draws on interviews, conducted during a three month period of research with a range of academics and local residents.

Key Words

gentrification, urban regeneration, class