Heritage-Led Regeneration and the Sanitisation of Memory in the Lower Swansea Valley

Heritage-led regeneration in post-industrial landscapes, particularly in the Lower Swansea Valley, can inadvertently sanitize memories of toxic legacies by promoting narratives of pride and productivity over those of environmental contamination. This study reveals how such approaches, while economically beneficial, often overwrite the narrative of decline associated with industrial decay—especially where significant decontamination efforts have been required. By analyzing the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape the research demonstrates that heritage-led regeneration, as part of neoliberal urban planning models in the UK, aims to stimulate economic and social development but may obscure the complexities of toxic industrial histories.

May, S. (2023). Heritage-Led Regeneration and the Sanitisation of Memory in the Lower Swansea Valley. Toxic Heritage, 77–88. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003365259-9