Urban Conservation In United Kingdom

This paper aims to look at the conservation of the Covent Garden market in central London. It is a place almost demolished by government and private developers. Local residents ran a campaign in 1970 s to against the brutal redevelopment plan. The campaign lasted for years, and finally protected the neighborhood. Public engagement was the key feature of that period. The reason why Covent Garden market could be retained, apart from the intrinsic values and the efforts of local community, there was one more important factor that was the historical background of that period. A transition swept the west Europe, including the UK because of the decline of modernity and the rise of post-modernity, which brought urban crisis meanwhile changed the notion of urban planning. Modernism planning theories could not solve the crisis. Cultural built environment was valued more than ever. Since then, heritage conservation has generally integrated into the procedure of urban planning and other urban policies. Covent Garden, as both a Comprehensive Development Area and Conservation Area, is an excellent example to understand the relationship between heritage conservation and urban development. The reuse of the market building was innovative, which made the historical building adjust to the modern society. Urban conservation is an useful way to regenerate old city area.