What’s the impact of Eden Project Morecambe on local renters?
What’s the Eden Project?
Eden Project started in Cornwall, setting up their now famous domed greenhouses and botanical garden in an old clay mine. The tourist attraction states that its mission is to “demonstrate and inspire positive action for the planet.” It’s a charity that states that their work goes beyond the physical locations, and focuses on ecology, sustainability, community, nature, wellbeing and global change.
Eden Morecambe
Eden Morecambe is one of eight other sites that the Eden Project announced it would be developing in recent years, including in the South Downs, Qingdao, New Zealand, Australia, Dubai, Costa Rica, Derry and Dundee. Planning permission was granted for an Eden Project in Morecambe in 2022, located on Central Drive close to the Midland Hotel. It has been allocated £50 million of Government “levelling-up” funding and is due to open in 2027 or 2028.
Morecambe Bay looking towards the West End. (Photo: Lupin)
What usually happens to rents when there is a big infrastructure project?
Large infrastructure projects often have a big impact on the cost of rents in the surrounding area and can be part of a process of gentrification, in which richer people move into or buy up houses in a more affordable, working class area. This means that housing is more in demand, and local people are forced out of their homes. Cornwall Live reports that house prices near the original Eden Project are nearly 50% higher than those in the surrounding area that aren’t next to the project. It’s a lot easier to find research on house prices than rents, and although rents do not directly track house prices, higher house prices can often be an indicator of higher rents.
Speaking to renters in Morecambe, we’ve heard that people noticed rents starting to increase as soon as the project was announced, and houses starting to be bought up by developers who were living elsewhere. TACU are looking more into the data on this, and speaking to local people who have already been affected by rent increases due to Eden Project.
Rent rises caused by Eden Project were also predicted. Speaking to the Lancaster Guardian in 2023, a member of the National Association of Property Buyers claimed that the Eden project would have a “massive impact” on the region’s housing. He stated that landlords would already be looking to take advantage of the situation, and that they are likely to focus on renting for Eden employees and people visiting for one or two nights, with a rise in Airbnb-style lettings. In an unexpected show of solidarity, he also stated that: "Without tight safeguards, local people face being priced out of their own neighbourhood – especially those who are most vulnerable and haven’t been able to enjoy the expected uplift in employment and wages.” If even the people thinking about cashing in from the project are aware of its effects on local people, why have Eden Project and Lancaster City Council appeared to do nothing to protect them?
What could be done to protect renters here?
Measures to protect renters could include a blanket ban on evictions (a version of which was brought in during the Covid-19 pandemic), rent controls (limits on how much rent a landlord can charge), and a ban on short-term Airbnb-style rentals (as practiced already in some cities and recently announced in Barcelona).
#NoEvictionsForEden
At TACU, we’re really happy to see more jobs and education opportunities in the area that the project promises to bring, but the price for this cannot be members of our community being forced out of their homes, especially those of us in the most precarious rental accommodation.
Eden Project states that they use their destinations “to support local people.” They should put this into practice by them and Lancaster City Council providing a full account of what measures they have in place to make sure that no-one is forced out of their homes because of the attraction.
Eden Project’s environmental and ecological claims are empty if they show a total disregard for the wellbeing of local people where they choose to locate their sites.
Eden Project is doing a series of “Community Conversations” which are listed here (you can listen back to old ones too to find out more about the project): https://www.edenproject.com/new-edens/eden-project-morecambe-uk/eden-project-morecambe-community-conversations
Housing charity Shelter provides advice for anyone who is facing eviction here: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/eviction
They also have a free emergency helpline which is open Monday to Friday 8am- 6pm: 0808 800 4444.
What does it mean to be found “intentionally homeless”?
TACU members are currently supporting a fellow union member who has been called “intentionally homeless”, by the local council. By using this term, the Council are ducking their responsibility to find suitable accommodation for people in the area who are experiencing, or at risk of homelessness.
With so many people across the country struggling to access secure, affordable, good quality housing, local authorities are resorting to desparate tactics in order to cut down waiting lists and determine who is eligible for help. Demand for affordable rental housing is outstripping supply, a situation which is exacerbated as Council homes continue to be sold off faster than they are built. In 2022-2023 there were 2369 people in the Lancaster Local Authority area alone on the waiting list for Council housing.
What does “intentionally homeless” mean?
The term “intentionally homeless” comes from the 1996 Housing Act (brought in by John Major’s Conservative government), which states that:
A person becomes homeless intentionally if he deliberately does or fails to do anything in consequence of which he ceases to occupy accommodation which is available for his occupation and which it would have been reasonable for him to continue to occupy.
According to the charity Shelter, examples of how this is interpreted in practice include:
If you are facing eviction from a private rental property and leave at any point before the bailiffs physically come to your home.
If you lose your home because you were in rent arrears and paid any other debts before your rent.
If you have been accused of “antisocial behaviour” (a deliberately vague term that can include anything from dogs barking to playing music too loudly) and face eviction as a result.
If you had to leave, or were sacked from a job that came with accommodation.
If you choose not to take on a tenancy that you decide isn’t suitable for you (for example if the Council offers you a tenancy out of the area which is away from your family and friends).
What to do if you are accused of intentional homelessness.
Shelter offers advice on how to avoid being labelled intentionally homeless. This primarily hinges around not giving up your tenancy, staying in your current home for as long as it is possible to do so, and ensuring that rent payments are paid before any other debts.
If you have already been accused of intentional homelessness, it is advisable not to accept it, and to urgently get legal advice, ideally from a specialist legal aid lawyer. Shelter has a free emergency helpline which is open Monday to Friday 8am-6pm and can direct you to the most appropriate help. Their number is 0808 800 4444. Depending on your circumstance, for example, if you are receiving universal credit, you might be eligible for free legal advice or legal aid. Shelter should be able to advise you on this, but there is also more information here.
You have 21 days to appeal the intentionally homeless decision from when you get the letter from the Council. You can do this by asking the Council for a review and there is information about how to do this here, including a template for a what to say in an email or letter to the Council. You do not need to give reasons why when you first ask for a review, and can send any supporting information later. Once you have requested the review the Council will look into your situation again, which can take up to eight weeks.
No-one is intentionally homeless.
Calling someone “intentionally homeless” is a cruel and cynical approach to artificially cutting down demand for housing and deciding who gets help. It is a form of state-sanctioned gaslighting and as a union we stand in solidarity with anyone who has experienced this.
Who are we at TACU?
TACU (Tenants and Community Union) is a community union within the Lancaster and Morecambe area who take action to improve living situations of people locally, with a focus on housing. We are a membership organisation that’s run by and for its members. We exist because we believe that structures in our society disempower us and put profit before people, and that the only way to stand against this is to collectivise our issues and stand in solidarity with each other. We recognise that so many problems that we’re currently facing, whether they’re inadequate housing, insecure jobs, or environmental destruction, are the result of a system that thinks that profits are more important than people and we believe that the only way to face this is by standing together.
Since forming in 2021, we’ve recruited members from across the district, collectivised issues, and defended members, we’ve hosted sessions on knowing your rights as a renter and put on social events including film screenings and pizza nights. We’ve knocked on doors throughout the community and chatting to residents about their concerns and experiences with housing. We’ve joined picket lines in solidarity with friends and community members during strike action and marched in protest of the rising cost of living. We’ve put on training sessions on Building Tenants Power and Stopping Immigration Raids. We also hosted a public meeting with national Council Housing campaigner Glyn Robbins about the selloff of council housing at Mainway in Skerton, which was attended by over 50 people.
Mainway Campaign
We’re currently involved in a campaign along with residents of the Mainway estate to stop Lancaster City Council from selling off the council homes there. Last year, residents in Lune and Derby House were encouraged by the Council to leave their homes while they were refurbished and were promised they would be able to return. Instead, the properties were sold to a private developer. In January 2024, residents of another block of flats nearby, Bridge House, were asked to move out, with some people finding out about this via local newspaper before they had received communication from the council. This is part of a bigger picture of a country-wide sell off of council housing at a time when it is needed most. There are currently over 2000 households waiting for council homes in Lancaster, with many desperate people not even being eligible to be included on the list.
How to get involved
Everyone who is committed to solidarity, care and collective action for social justice is welcome to join the union, and we’re always delighted to welcome new members. If you’re interested in joining, please take a look at the Join TACU section of our website, where you’ll be able to complete a membership form. Each member pays a monthly fee which goes towards defending members, funding campaigns, and supporting actions. Membership is based on a sliding scale according to income, and the standard rate is one hour’s wage per month, through to £0 if not able to contribute. Once you’ve completed the sign-up form, someone from the union will be in touch to provide more details and to invite you to one of our monthly sessions, where we discuss and plan campaigns and actions. We’d love to have you involved!
