Public Attitudes Towards Tall Buildings in Cities. Research Study Conducted for English Heritage

Transcription

1 Public Attitudes Towards Tall Buildings in Cities Research Study Conducted for English Heritage June 2001

2 Contents Introduction 3 Main Findings 4 Location is key 4 Landmark buildings in London 6 Public Parks in London 6 Very Tall Buildings 6 Young vs Old People 7 Summary & Implications 9 Appendices Technical Details 11 Definition of Social Grades 12 Topline Results Computer Tables

3 Introduction This report presents the findings of a survey conducted by MORI (Market & Opinion Research International) on behalf of English Heritage. The questions were conducted over the telephone among the general public in England and Wales. In total 1,302 telephone interviews were completed between 1 st -3 rd June 2001, by MORI s sister company MTS (MORI Telephone Surveys). These comprised a representative sample of 1,002 adults across England and Wales, boosted with a further 300 interviews in London. Quotas were set on age, sex, working status, social class and region. Resulting data have been weighted to ensure that these match the correct profile. As a guide, please note that results for different sub-groups generally need to be more than two percentage points apart for the difference to be statistically significant, although this will depend on the size of the sub-group and the finding itself. Details on statistical significance testing are included in the Appendices. Our Standard Terms and Conditions apply to this, as to all studies we carry out. No press release or publication of the findings of this survey shall be made without the advance approval of MORI. Such approval will only be refused on the grounds of inaccuracy or misrepresentation.

4 Main Findings As might be expected, public attitudes towards tall buildings are divided, although in cities the proportion who favour them tends to outweigh those who are opposed. Overall, around one-third of the population appear to be opposed to tall buildings, wherever they are located or whatever they look like. On the other hand, while around one in ten show a great deal of support for tall buildings, the remainder of the population just over half do not show strong opinions one way or another. Location is key Although a significant proportion of the public is generally supportive of tall buildings, this appears to be largely dependent on their location. Ninety-four per cent of the public think that, when putting up a new building in a city centre, an important factor is the extent to which it fits in with its surrounding area (including 67% who state that it is very important ). Seven in ten (72%) with the notion that if buildings look good, it doesn t matter if they fit into the local environment. Around nine out of ten (87%) think that tall buildings should be restricted to certain parts of cities. Attitudes towards Tall Buildings (1) Q To what extent do you agree or with the following statements? % Strongly agree % Tend to agree % Neither /nor % Tend to % Strongly % Don t know There are far too many tall buildings in British cities nowadays If a building looks good it doesn t matter whether it suits the environment its in There aren t enough controls over putting up tall buildings in British cities Base: All respondents (1,302) There is a section of the population who appear to be against tall buildings altogether. One in four agree that they are all eyesores, and if the opportunity arises it would be better if they were pulled down.

5 The public do not appear to be in favour of building new residential tower blocks. Twothirds agree with the notion that tall buildings could be built in cities for use as offices, but not for living accommodation. This perhaps ties in with the view that tall buildings are not welcome in the outskirts of cities 69% with the idea that tall buildings are better in the outskirts than city centres. Attitudes towards Tall Buildings (2) Q To what extent do you agree or with the following statements? % Strongly agree % Tend to agree % Neither /nor % Tend to % Strongly % Don t know Its fine to have tall buildings on the outskirts of cities, but they shouldn t be allowed in city centres. I approve of putting up tall buildings in cities if they are to be used as offices, but would not like to see new tower blocks put up for living accommodation All tall buildings are eyesores. When an opportunity arises it would be better if exiting buildings were pulled down Base: All respondents (1,302) Seven in ten people (69%) with the notion that British cities need more tall buildings in order to compete with global centres like New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Around one-fifth (22%), on the other hand, believe that this is the case. Attitudes towards Tall Buildings (3) Q To what extent do you agree or with the following statements? % Strongly agree % Tend to agree % Neither /nor % Tend to % Strongly % Don t know British cities need more tall buildings to compete on a global scale with places like New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong Tall buildings should be restricted to certain parts of cities, so that other parts can retain their character Putting up tall buildings is the best way to avoid building in the countryside Base: All respondents (1,302)

6 Landmark buildings in London Nine out of ten people (91%) approve of the protection rights for the two landmark buildings of St Paul s Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament. Just 6% disapprove of this protected status. Furthermore, 81% of those who approve of landmark building status (around threequarters of the population as a whole) think that two landmark buildings are not enough, and that more should be protected. Public Parks in London Only 5% of the public think that more tall buildings close to London s parks would enhance the experience of being in the park. Around half (54%) think they would detract from being in the park and one-third (36%) say that they would make no difference. Very Tall Buildings Opinion is relatively evenly divided on the subject of very tall buildings (defined as those as tall as, or taller than, Canary Wharf). The largest proportion of respondents (44%) say that there are enough at present, and that no more ought to be built over the next few years. While one in four people (25%) think that we should build more very tall buildings in London, one in five say that the number should actually be reduced (18%). London residents (36%) are decidedly more likely than those from elsewhere to support the construction of more very tall buildings. The most popular location, among those who would like to see more very tall buildings, is Docklands - 74% of those who support more such buildings (83% in London) say it would be acceptable to build them there. Around half also mention the City and near mainline stations in London. The outskirts of the capital are the least popular locations, closely followed by the riverfront, and the West End. London residents are a little more likely than those living elsewhere to see all the locations featured as being suitable places for very tall buildings to be put up. Only a tiny proportion of the population believes that there are no locations where very tall buildings should not be allowed. Among all those who say that more very tall buildings should be put up in London, just 7% say that there should be no restrictions on their location. (This equates to less than 2% of the population overall.)

7 Young vs Old People The results indicate a marked difference in the opinions of young and old people, with those aged under 35 tending to be more positive towards tall buildings than those aged 55 and over. In total, around one-quarter of adults aged under 35 think that there are too many tall buildings in cities, compared with around half of those aged 55 or over. Similarly, when asked whether they think that all tall buildings are eyesores and should be pulled down when the opportunity arises, again only around one-quarter of the younger age group agree with the statement, compared with more than two-fifths of older people. Attitudes towards Tall Buildings by Age Q To what extent do you agree or with the following. Strongly Tend to Neither/ nor Tend to agree Strongly agree.there are far too many tall buildings in British cities nowadays year olds year olds.all tall buildings are eyesores. When an opportunity arises it would be better if existing tall buildings were pulled down. -28 Base: (392) and 55+ (384) respondents year olds year olds Younger people are also less likely to think that it is important to take into consideration a range of issues, before deciding to put up a new building in a city. Of all issues measured (apart from the impact on jobs which may be created), younger people are consistently less likely than those aged over 55, to think they are very important. For example, as can be seen in the chart on the next page, just over half of younger people think that it is very important to consider a building s architectural quality, how it fits into the surrounding area and its proximity to public transport compared to around threequarters of those aged over 55.

8 Attitudes towards Tall Buildings by Age Q To what degree are the following important when putting up a new building years old 55+ years old Very important 75% Its architectural quality 56% Extent to which it fits in with the surrounding area Proximity to transport links The jobs which might be created 51% 54% 77% 73% 65% 69% The look of the building at ground level Its effect on the skyline 28% 35% 58% 66% Base: (392) and 55+ (384) respondents

9 Summary & Implications The general feeling appears to be that the British public is certainly not opposed to tall buildings per se (especially if used as offices rather than living accommodation), but would not support unlimited expansion. Opinion is split on the issue of whether there are too many tall buildings in British cities, but twice as many as agree with the notion that all tall buildings are eyesores, and that when opportunities arise, it would be better to pull them down. The vast majority believe that tall buildings should be restricted to certain parts of cities. What s more, they firmly with the idea that if a building is good looking, then its impact on the immediate environment is unimportant. Most, though, do not agree that tall buildings should be restricted to the outskirts of cities. On this, issue, it would seem that attitudes are related to answers to other questions, i.e. they would rather keep tall buildings away from the areas where they live. The views of London residents do not tend to differ significantly from those of people living elsewhere across the country on any of these issues. However, those living outside of big cities tend to be a little more in favour of restricting tall buildings to certain parts of cities. City residents outside of London, on the other hand, tend to be more likely than others to support the notion that tall buildings should be pulled down whenever opportunities arise. The population is relatively evenly split on the issue of very tall buildings in London. The largest proportion say that over the next few years they would prefer no more to go up. Around one in four believe that more very tall buildings would be a good idea, but one in five, on the other hand, would actually prefer to see those which already exist pulled down. This is certainly not a vote in favour of rapid expansion of such buildings. Among those who would like to see new very tall buildings put up, there is a slight difference between London residents and others over areas where they would be acceptable. Both groups agree that Docklands would be the most acceptable site, and that the outskirts would be least acceptable. However, London residents tend to be a little more supportive of the idea that very tall buildings could be allowed to go up in a number of different locations.

10 Two in five say that the impact of a tall building on the skyline is a very important factor. Only one person in 25, on the other hand, thinks this is not at all important. This, though, is not considered to be as important as other factors such as the jobs which might be created, proximity to public transport links, the extent to which it fits in with the surrounding area, and its architectural quality in each case around twothirds consider these to be very important. London residents are more likely than those living in other cities to rate the effect of a building on the skyline as very important. The group showing the strongest support for this notion, though, is non-city dwellers. There are no significant geographical differences on the issue of the importance of job creation. Support for the protection of landmark building status is very strong. Nine in ten people approve of protecting key sight lines. What s more the vast majority of people think that more buildings ought to be protected in this way. Around three-quarters of the entire population approve of extending landmark building status to more buildings/sights. Half of the population believe that putting up more tall buildings in the vicinity of London s parks would detract from the experience of being in the parks. While one in three people think that they would have no significant impact, just 5% believe that the experience would be enhanced. London residents are marginally more likely than others to feel that more tall buildings would enhance the effect of being in the parks, but even among this population, only one in ten feel this way. MORI/14984 Andy Martin Peter Hasler

11 Technical Details The sample tolerances that apply to the percentage results in this report are given in the table below. This table shows the possible variation that might be anticipated because a sample, rather than the entire population, was interviewed. As indicated, sampling tolerances vary with the size of the sample and the size of the percentage results. Approximate sampling tolerances applicable to percentages at or near these levels 10% or 90% + 30% or 70% + 50% + 1, , (London) For example, on a question where 50% of the people in a sample of 1,000 respond with a particular answer, the chances are 95 in 100 that this result would not vary more than three percentage points, plus or minus, from a complete coverage of the entire population using the same procedures. Tolerances are also involved in the comparison of results from different parts of the sample. A difference, in other words, must be of at least a certain size to be considered statistically significant. The following table is a guide to the sampling tolerances applicable to comparisons. Differences required for significance at or near these percentages 10% or 90% 30% or 70% 50% 477 vs (broadsheet reader) vs 313 (tabloid) 5 7 8

12 Definition of Social Grades This appendix contains a brief list of social class definitions as used by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising. These groups are standard on all surveys carried out by Market & Opinion Research International Limited. Social Class Social Grades Occupation of Chief Income Earner Percentage of Population A Upper Middle Class Higher managerial, administrative or professional 2.9 B Middle Class Intermediate managerial, administrative or professional 18.9 C1 Lower Middle Class Supervisor or clerical and junior managerial, administrative or professional 27.0 C2 Skilled Working Class Skilled manual workers 22.6 D Working Class Semi and unskilled manual workers 16.9 E Those at the lowest levels of subsistence State pensioners, etc, with no other earnings 11.7