The skylines of many global cities are dominated by residential tall buildings, but surprisingly little is known about them. Following the Grenfell Tower fire in London, England, the UK government struggled to understand how many tall buildings there are, how many are affected by building safety failures, and to identify those responsible for looking after these buildings. Eight years after the fire this core information is still very patchy. In addition to the absence of basic core data, there is little understanding about the role, and practice, of law(s) in residential towers. This makes it difficult for policy makers to respond to urgent contemporary challenges such as building safety, sustainable cities, and achieving net zero. 

In our article we propose a new framework that can be used to inform future empirical research. We show that law and financialisation are intertwined and that it is helpful to examine these interconnections at five scales, from the global, national, municipal, site/building to the home. The Phase 2 report from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry shows how the (national) regulatory laws designed to ensure that buildings are constructed to be safe were manipulated by (global) product suppliers to enable them to promote the use of combustible products on high-rise buildings (site). The outcome was that the cladding system used in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower was found to be the principal cause of the rapid fire spread, and resulting loss of 72 lives. 

Law is an expansive concept that includes not only legislative and contractual rules, but also informal social and commercial norms. For example, as well as the statutory regulations of planning and building, we include management practices and resident-led initiatives.  We refer to a recent study from Australia that illustrates how social norms may intersect with (formal) regulation and design to make families with children feel out of place (Kerr et al, 2025) in residential developments.

There is a rich multi-disciplinary urban scholarship that explores tall buildings, but a notable gap in relation to the role of law, especially at the scales of site/building and home. Indeed, in England, there is no data about the legal, governance and management arrangements used and how the arrangements impact on, for example, maintenance, costs and quality of life.  Adopting our socio-legal framework in empirical studies will provide a much richer understanding of residential towers and provide the foundation for more effective policy implementation.

Sometimes, there is a false impression of permanence despite ongoing neighbourhood changes. It has been happening recently in Lodz, Poland, where ‘rooming flats’ are mushrooming in the inner city. However, they remain ‘hidden’ from the public behind facades.

Today, numerous cities are home to higher education students. They are increasingly living off-campus in private housing and, as a result, many urban neighbourhoods experience studentification. In our paper, we present how studentification is progressing in the inner city of Lodz through the expansion of the rooming-flats business.

We empirically illustrate rooming flats in Lodz: their materialities, geographies, labelling, production, and paradoxical impacts. This way, we show that rooming flats are accommodations delivered usually through a profit-seeking conversion of conventional spacious flats in historic buildings into shared housing with multiple single-occupancy bedrooms for student rentals.

However, we go beyond that and demonstrate that studentification in inner-city Lodz is being spurred by financialisation-led densification. More precisely, we show that the soft-densification activities of real estate actors serve as a bridge between housing financialisation and vertical studentification. Revealing and interpreting the interplay of financialisation, densification and studentification is our main contribution to the current, vivid debates on the nexus of student housing and urban geographies.

What is more, we argue that the phenomenon of rooming flats should not be seen just within the context of Lodz. Instead, we propose adding the term rooming flats to the expanding lexicon of shared housing forms, such as HMOs, PBSAs, and co-livings, which have recently proliferated in cities worldwide. All these new housing forms demonstrate that real estate activities can quickly transform urban neighbourhoods and living densities.

Consequently, we perceive the new era of ‘shrinking homes’ as requiring critical involvement from scholars and policymakers to better understand the mechanisms and effects of densification. As a step in this direction, our paper contributes to the special issue of Urban Studies, ‘The Business of Densification: Institutions, Actors, and Outcomes in the Transformation of Urban Settlements’.

Hong Kong’s transit-driven vibe inspired this study. Every day, you see “priority seats” and elevators with signs for those “in need” or with “disabilities” (like the red signage above), but it’s not always clear who gets to use them. Time and again, we spot someone skipping empty priority seats or struggling upstairs and escalators—maybe catching their breath, clinging to the rail, or moving slowly from hidden pain or tiredness—yet they hesitate to use facilities they deserve because their struggle doesn’t show. It’s a shame when people who need these resources avoid them, leaving elevators quiet and seats untouched (see also the “elevator for cyclists” in Belgrade, Serbia, from Suboticki and Sørensen, 2020, in this journal). That pushed our team to explore how people with non-visible disabilities get around, looking beyond just ramps and railings.

What Drives Their Walking Route Choices?

This study zooms in on why people with/out non-visible disabilities pick certain walking paths when elevators are options. We didn’t just focus on physical hurdles—we wanted to unpack the social and emotional side: how society sees these facilities, how people view themselves, and the guilt that comes with using them. Using a mix of surveys, statistical modeling, and interviews, we found some eye-opening insights. For some, guilt can outweigh physical impairment or even identifying as “disabled” when someone decides whether to take an elevator. Picture feeling uneasy about using one because your pain isn’t obvious—that’s a real mental block! Women, we learned, often feel this guilt more but still use elevators a lot, maybe because of cultural norms or practical needs like carrying groceries. Interviews showed people wrestling with needing help versus worrying about judgmental stares.

Why It Matters: Beyond the Physical

Getting around isn’t just about point A to point B—it’s about fairness for all. Our work spotlights non-visible disabilities, which urban planners often miss. Unlike older studies stuck on obvious impairments, we used a social constructivist view—disability isn’t just a doctor’s note; it’s shaped by how society thinks. Mixing this fresh take with quantitative data and personal stories gives a richer view of city life. Key takeaway? Guilt and social attitudes can block access more than any staircase.

So, what’s next?

For researchers, planners, policymakers, and even travellers, here are some reflections: Disability isn’t yes-or-no—transport needs to fit all kinds of physical, mental, and emotional realities, even the hidden ones. Accessibility isn’t just personal; it’s about changing how we all think. Non-visible disabilities need a “seat” at the planning table for designing and testing solutions—they know what works. Awareness campaigns and staff training can also cut stigma and spark empathy. Invisible disabilities are common, but they’re barely seen in stats, policies, or our shared mindset. Let’s make the invisible visible.

Looking ahead, we see this field evolving to consider these hidden experiences. Future planning could use community input to capture self-perceived needs, not just official stats. Imagine elevators and seats with signs saying, “For anyone who needs it—no judgment”. Our study nudges toward that kind, inclusive approach, mixing ambitious theory with practical policy ideas. Hong Kong’s streets and trains belong to everyone—let’s keep the conversation going with dialogue, collaboration, and challenging norms to make cities truly welcoming.

New issue out now

The second June 2024 issue (Volume 61, Issue 8) of Urban Studies Journal is now available online. Read the full issue here.

Articles include:

The urbanisation of controlled environment agriculture: Why does it matter for urban studies? by Simon Marvin, Lauren Rickards and Jonathan Rutherford

Simon Marvin, Lauren Rickards and Jonathan Rutherford’s open access debates paper shows how urban controlled environment agriculture (CEA) selectively extends existing logics of urban and rural agriculture.

Rezoning a top-notch CBD: The choreography of land-use regulation and creative destruction in Manhattan’s East Midtown by Igal Charney

Igal Charney’s paper makes the case for the connection between making land use regulatory changes and the process of destruction and redevelopment.

New articles 

Reimagining the urban through agency as healing justice: Stories from Kolkata and Chicago by Ritwika Biswas and Elizabeth L. Sweet

Biswas and Sweet highlight instances of women reclaiming urban spaces in their everyday lives through varied acts of their agency while also building a sense of community agency; ultimately leading towards healing justice.

Smaller cities as sites of youth migrant incorporation by Mukta Naik

Open access research paper by Mukta Naik shows how, despite low scalar positions on account of weak governance and informalised economies, smaller cities shape varied employment opportunities and generate spatially and temporally varied mobilities for domestic migrants.

The making of a global neighbourhood in China by Fanling Cheng, Zai Liang and Tao Xu

Cheng et al identify several factors contributing to the neighbourhood’s evolution, including immigrants’ market-driven rational choice, the local government’s multi-faceted service, and the bridging role of Chinese ethnic minorities

Mapping religion, space and economic outcomes in Indian cities by Sripad Motiram and Vamsi Vakulabharanam

New study by Sripad Motiram and Vamsi Vakulabharanam uses a socio-spatial approach to analyse the intersection between religion and space in two Indian cities: Hyderabad and Mumbai.

‘Once you come, you are a Shenzhener’? Multifaceted and variegated sense of place among migrants in Shenzhen by Huimin Du

New study by Huimin Du sheds light on the complexity of sense of place and the nuances of belonging, attachment, identity, and home in contemporary Chinese urbanism.

Why mixed communities regeneration fails to improve the lives of low-income young people by Rana Khazbak

New open access article by Rana Khazbak examines the mechanisms through which the capabilities of low income young people are influenced by transforming their social housing estate into a mixed income community.

Local state leadership: State-leading groups in governing urban China by Jie Guo, Hong’ou Zhang and Yongchun Yang

Through the lens of local state leadership, this study by Jie Guo et al emphasises the heterogeneity of the state and enriches the understanding of state-led urban development.

Read the accompanying blog post here.

Places to be young: The dispossession of public space in Old Havana by Joanna Kocsis

In this open access article, Kocsis identifies how the spatial practices involved in the enactment of Old Havana’s new imaginary dispossess local youth of ‘backstage’ spaces for the work of identity formation, and changes the symbolic value of local youth to the reimagined Old Havana.

Targeting the centre and (least) poor: Evidence from urban Lahore, Pakistan by Hadia Majid and Mahvish Shami

New research by Hadia Majid and Mahvish Shami shows how electoral incentives in Pakistan are biased against programmatic public goods provision for the urban poor.

‘Lines of flight’ in city food networks: A relational approach to food systems transformation by Roberta Discetti and Diletta Acuti

In this open access paper, Roberta Discetti and Diletta Acuti are interested in ‘city food networks’ as a way in which cities are taking action to bring about positive changes in food systems.

Small is beautiful? Making sense of ‘shrinking’ homes by Phil Hubbard

In this open access critical commentary, Phil Hubbard suggests that the shrinking homes phenomenon shows the growing role of finance in the development of cities, suggestive of the way that developers are extracting maximum value from restricted urban sites in an era of planning deregulation.

Communities built on political trust: Theory and evidence from China by Yu Zeng and Shitong Qiao

Study by Yu Zeng and Shitong Qiao finds urban communities are based on political trust in authoritarian regimes, complicating the conventional view that such regimes repress civic engagement or manipulate civic organisations for social control.

New book review

Read more book reviews on the Urban Studies blog.

China’s urban development has been conceptualised as a state-led, capital-driven and land-fueled process. Many studies have delved into how the state employs tactics like large-scale urban projects, infrastructure investments, ecological restoration, and land-based finance to mobilise social actors and resources towards strategic objectives (Wu, 2020). However, the structural fragmentation of China’s authoritarian system leads to increased time costs and reduced administrative efficiency in policy formulation (Lieberthal and Lampton, 1992). This conflicts with the local leadership’s goal of pursuing rapid urbanisation (Chien and Woodworth, 2018; Wu and Zhang, 2022), and hindered its aspirations for territorial consolidation (Hsing, 2010).

Arguably, in the era of decentralisation, conflicts and contradictions within the administrative system are crucial in shaping China’s urbanisation process (Catier, 2015). However, current research has predominantly concentrated on the interplay between the state and non-state actors, examining how their conflicts impede or modify the execution of government strategies, while overlooking the internal conflict and negotiation within the state. Specifically, there is a gap in understanding how local authorities leverage their resources and authority to convert decentralised power into effective control, address internal fragmentation within the state, and foster cohesive action to expedite projects of “rapid” territorialisation of cities.

We believe that understanding the process of state-led urban development in China requires attention to its unique party-state system and an understanding of the coordination of goals and relational interactions between heterogeneous state subjects. Hence, we try to ask how local leadership entrusted with governance responsibilities can translate decentralised authority into effective territorial control? Particularly, how does it use organisational capacity to discipline fragmented administrations and bring about unity of action, and how does it mobilise labour and resources to maintain the legitimacy of its rule?

We examine the urban development strategies and pro-growth politics in China from a local state leadership perspective, focusing on the power dynamics within the local state leadership under China’s fragmented authoritarian system. We notice that state leading group is an innovative governance technique intentionally designed to overcome the institutional flaws of “tiao-kuai segmentation.” It plays a critical role in fostering a common vision of “growth promotion,” aligning goals and unifying actions in the administrative system, broadening social consensus, and promoting public-private partnerships. Through the lens of local state leadership, our study reveals the heterogeneity of the state and enriches the understanding of state-led urban development. Simultaneously, using China as a methodology, we call for a reflection on the importance of focusing on conflicts within the state rather than just between state and non-state actors when exploring the “politics of urban growth.”

Read the full article on Urban Studies OnlineFirst here.

Latest articles on OnlineFirst

Does gentrification constrain housing markets for low-income households? Evidence from household residential mobility in the New York and San Francisco metropolitan areas by Taesoo Song and Karen Chapple

New open access study by Taesoo Song and Karen Chapple provides implications for research and policies oriented towards improving housing and neighbourhood access for low-income households in rapidly changing urban areas.

 

Inhabiting digital spaces: An informational right to the city for mobility justice by Dian Nostikasari, Nicole Foster, and Lauren Krake

New study by Dian Nostikasari et al asks: what are the mechanisms through which space is conceived, perceived, and lived through the lens of mobility justice? 

 

Walls and openings: The politics of containment of informal communities in Islamabad by Faiza Moatasim

What is the interface between spaces inside and outside the walls built around low-income communities in elite neighbourhoods? How do people living inside the walls built to contain their communities engage with this infrastructure of control? Faiza Moatasim investigates in this new article.

 

Smart cities, virtual futures? – Interests of urban actors in mediating digital technology and urban space in Tallinn, Estonia by Olli Ilmari Jakonen

 

New research by Olli Jakonen explores the converging interests of urban actors in mediating digital technology adoption in urban space.

 

Megaprojects in austerity times: Populism, politicisation, and the breaking of the neoliberal consensus by Amparo Tarazona Vento

Through the case study of Valencia, this paper looks at how different populist discourses have been deployed to create either consent or dissent around entrepreneurial policies based on the use of megaprojects and events.

 

Discontent in the world city of Singapore by Gordon Kuo Siong Tan, Jessie PH Poon and Orlando Woods

This paper by Tan et al contributes to thematic diversity by integrating the ‘left behind’ and world cities literatures through the lens of discontent.

 

New book reviews on Urban Blog

Read more book reviews on the Urban Studies blog.

Urban Studies Best Article 2023

The editors are pleased to announce that two of the shortlisted papers have been selected as joint winners of the Urban Studies Best Article for 2023. Our congratulations to the authors: Anthony Miro Born, for The long shadow of territorial stigma: Upward social mobility and the symbolic baggage of the old neighbourhood; and Japhy Wilson, for Apocalyptic urban surrealism in the city at the end of the world.

The long shadow of territorial stigma: Upward social mobility and the symbolic baggage of the old neighbourhood
Anthony Miro Born
Urban Studies 60(3): 537–553.

Apocalyptic urban surrealism in the city at the end of the world
Japhy Wilson
Urban Studies 60(4): 718–733.

 

Seven other articles were shortlisted by the editors:

‘My neighbourhood is fuzzy, not hard and fast’: Individual and contextual associations with perceived residential neighbourhood boundaries among ageing Americans
Jessica Finlay, Joy Jang, Michael Esposito, Leslie McClure, Suzanne Judd and Philippa Clarke
Urban Studies 60(1): 85–108.

Citizen security and urban commuting in Latin America
José Ignacio Giménez-Nadal, Lucía Echeverría and Alberto Molina
Urban Studies 60(13): 2585–2611.

Capital’s welfare dependency: Market failure, stalled regeneration and state subsidy in Glasgow and Edinburgh
Neil Gray and Hamish Kallin
Urban Studies 60(6): 1031–1047.

Towards a modest imaginary? Sanitation in Kampala beyond the modern infrastructure ideal
Mary Lawhon, Gloria Nsangi Nakyagaba and Timos Karpouzoglou
Urban Studies 60(1): 146–165.

Impacts of political fragmentation on inclusive economic resilience: Examining American metropolitan areas after the Great Recession
Soomi Lee and Shu Wang
Urban Studies 60(1): 26–45.

Using natural language processing to construct a National Zoning and Land Use Database
Matthew Mleczko and Matthew Desmond
Urban Studies 60(13): 2564–2584.

Income polarisation, expenditure and the Australian urban middle class
Ilan Wiesel, Julia de Bruyn, Jordy Meekes and Sangeetha Chandrashekeran
Urban Studies 60(14): 2779–2798.

 

These articles along with the other seven shortlisted papers are currently free to view. The full announcement can be found here.

 

Latest articles on OnlineFirst

Green in their own way: Pragmatic and progressive means for cities to overcome institutional barriers to sustainability by Ana Gonzalez and Christof Brandtner

Drawing on in-depth interviews with sustainability managers, Ana Gonzalez and Christof Brandtner show that cities express different symbolic and material resource needs as well as means to acquire them.

 

New book reviews on Urban Blog

Read more book reviews on the Urban Studies blog.

 

Latest articles on OnlineFirst

Automatic for the people? Problematising the potential of digital planning by Ruth Potts, Alex Lord and John Sturzaker

Study by Ruth Potts et al addresses the need to problematise digital planning and presents a conceptual framework examining different levels in planning systems at which specific risks of digital planning may occur.

Read the accompanying blog post here.

 

Urban motorways as spaces of possibility: Urban interstices and everyday practices around a motorway in Sardinia by Martina Loi

New study by Martina Loi explores the hypothesis that urban interstices around urban motorways could be intended as spaces of creative, political, and performative possibilities not responding to planning and market logic.

 

Re-learning culture in cities beyond the West by Violante Torre

Drawing on an ethnography of the street “Avenida 26” in Bogotá, Colombia, Violante Torre shows that informal cultural practices in the middle of segregation and urban violence can hardly be grasped through the current framing of culture in cities in this open access paper.

 

The role of analytical models and their circulation in urban studies and policy by Clémentine Cottineau, Michael Batty, Itzhak Benenson, Justin Delloye, Erez Hatna, Denise Pumain, Somwrita Sarkar, Cécile Tannier and Rūta Ubarevičienė

In this open access article, Cottineau et al show that despite their analytical nature, highly mobile models share characteristics relating to creators’ and intermediaries’ biographies, institutional context and the traditional markers of power relations.

Read the accompanying blog post here.

 

Moving through Toronto’s PATH: Assembling private urban governance by Debra Mackinnon, Stefan Treffers and Randy K Lippert

This open access article is part of the forthcoming Special Issue: The New Private Urban Governance: Vestiges, Ventures, and Visibility.

Mackinnon et al explore Toronto’s urban PATH, a 30km network of underground pedestrian tunnels and elevated walkways that connect shopping areas, residential towers, mass transit and downtown destinations.