Against a background of discussions of suburban decline in Outer London, Alan Mace (LSE) and Antoine Paccoud (LSE Visiting Fellow) look at areas that have seen "upscaling", asking whether this is a form of gentrification. 

Upscaling is based on a ‘Socio-economic Classification’ where higher groups replace lower groups. Taking the period 2001-2011, the data show the ratio of social upscaling to downscaling London-wide is related to housing costs. This may be unsurprising, but suggests an ‘overspill’ of households from parts of Inner, to parts of Outer London. Turning to those areas of Outer London that are upscaling a series of questions are raised. Are changes of tenure playing a role? And, are there physical characteristics that make some parts of Outer London more attractive to upscalers? The data do not produce conclusive results but indicate the need to understand better the drivers of change in Outer London.