Putting it bluntly, the incumbents (as opposed to the ambiguous "locals") of the Bellenden Rd area prior to the regeneration efforts didn't seem to give a damn about the social and aesthetic conditions they were living in (on the surface, anyway). They wallowed in their own mire, and new, forward-thinking arrivals grasped the push for regeneration and crafted it in an image they - as de-facto custodians - wished to project. It may come as a bone-chilling shock for some of you reading from a two bedroom terrace valued at a quarter of a million pounds (or thereabouts), but in the mid-'90s E. Dulwich was an eyesore. It was a complete dump. Then some likeminded entrepreneurs arrived on their Californain rollerboards one afternoon, scoffed amongst themselves at the plebian thoroughfare they'd set foot in and began formulating a divide and conquer strategy. They spread the word along the upwardly mobile grapevine that promising territory for a new colony had been scouted, and that anyone who had dreams of opening a sandal shop or houmous bar during their business studies degree had better hitch their wagons and head on down. Fast-forward five or so years and the stagnating businesses this area was notorious for have been pushed aside and replaced by a vibrant blend of new businesses. Colonies established by the Romans across their empire without a large military presence were soon abandoned or stagnated if they didn't attract enough trade. The same set of rules applies today. The only difference is that they now come with WiFi.