just watched BBC1’s insideout, especially a feature about the “development” of london’s portobello road. “development” in quotes because it’s really about driving out old, established small shops and businesses to increase the yield through rents that are 100% higher and can only be afforded by the big chain stores (just noticed that my hands wanted to write “chain saws”…fitting, though, as these chain stores just mercilessly cut through established societal fabrics, destroying local culture and colour wherever they appear). the term the presenter sumi bose used was clonetowns — very appropriate!