The regeneration of the walled city of Vittoriosa : the impact on the community

Abstract

Since the first decade of the new millennium, Vittoriosa, also known as Birgu, has undergone an extensive urban regeneration programme. Successive governments have invested in diverse ways towards the enhancement of the locality in an attempt to reverse the effects of years of socioeconomic, physical and environmental decline. The physical, economic and social changes brought about through this regeneration process have had diverse ramifications on the daily life of the local community. The main aim of this study was to gain insight into how the Birgu community experiences and makes sense of the impact of Birgu’s regeneration process. Through the adoption of a qualitative approach, primary narrative data was collected through the conduct of twelve semi-structured interviews with four Maltese Birgu residents who have been living in Birgu for 25 years or more, four community leaders who have been working within the Birgu community for 25 years or more and four foreign nationals who have been residing in Birgu for at least 5 years. Purposive sampling was used for the recruitment of local residents and community leaders while snowballing sampling was used for the recruitment of foreign nationals. Transcripts were analysed through the use of the inductive Thematic Analysis. Salient findings revealed that a sense of community, pride and place attachment is highly prevalent in Birgu with the city’s regeneration process being perceived as one of the factors that is leading to the possible death knell of the local community. Whereas the amelioration of the physical landscape, the waterfront project and the “culture-led” regeneration have had a positive impact on the local community, economic initiatives were perceived to have had a limited trickle down effect. Gentrification was also deemed to have clearly featured in this regeneration process. The influx of foreign nationals and Maltese people from outside the locality, high property prices and exorbitant rents were perceived to have benefited local homeowners and given value to the locality but have also led to the direct and indirect displacement of long established residents. Another key finding was that, in line with Park et. al’s (1925) invasion-succession model, conflicts and tensions between incoming foreign nationals and long-established residents have also arisen. Findings also highlighted the concerns of Maltese Birgu residents and community leaders regarding the gradual erosion of the social fabric, the loss of a shared sense of common identity and the lack of participation as possible further negative impacts of Birgu’s regeneration process. This research study concluded with a series of recommendations for policy and further research based on the findings and also highlighted the implications for community work practice.