1.1.5 New Urban Processes

Question 1

New Urban Processes

Answer 1

• Deindustrialisation
• Decentralisation
• Rise of the service economy
• Urban resurgence
• Urban regeneration
• Gentrification

Question 2

Deindustrialisation

Answer 2

The loss of jobs in the manufacturing sector and the movement of jobs to the tertiary and quaternary sector.

Question 3

History of deindustrialisation

Answer 3

In the 1960s, some developing nations became industrialised and were able to produce costs at a cheaper price than Europe or North America, mainly due to lower labour costs.

By the 1970s, the developed world was struggling to compete with the products being manufactured in the developing world. Entire industries collapsed, e.g. steel in Sheffield, which led to mass unemployment and poverty.

In the UK, deindustrialisation caused unemployment to rise above 3 million in 1983. This was the highest rate of unemployment since WW2.

Question 4

Causes of deindustrialisation

Answer 4

• Mechanisation
• Competition from abroad
• Government legislation
• Employment change
• Outdated infrastructure

Question 5

Economic impacts of deindustrialisation:

Answer 5

• Closure of other businesses which supports the closing industry.
• Decline in property prices as out migration occurs.
• Loss of jobs and personal disposable incomes.
• Loss of income tax to the local authority which leads to a potential decline in services.
• Increase in demand for state benefits.

Question 6

Social impacts of deindustrialisation:

Answer 6

• Increase in unemployment
• Higher levels of deprivation
• Loss of confidence and morale in local population.
• Higher levels of crime, family breakdowns, alcohol and drug abuse and other social problems.

Question 7

Environmental impacts of deindustrialisation:

Answer 7

• A reduction in noise, land and water pollution and reduced traffic congestion.
• Derelict land and buildings
• Long term pollution of land from dirty industries such as dye works and iron foundries remain a problem as there is no money for land remediation.
• Deteriorating infrastructure
• Reduced maintenance of local housing caused by lower personal and local authority incomes.

Question 8

How can deindustrialisation be dealt with?

Answer 8

• Urban regeneration (Top down)
• Gentrification (Bottom up)

Question 9

Urban regeneration

Answer 9

The strategies chosen by local or central government to manage the development of urban areas and reduce urban problems.

Question 10

Gentrification

Answer 10

The change in the neighbourhood composition. Low-income residents are replaced by middle class.

Question 11

Rise of the service economy

Answer 11

During the 1980s, many service industries (e.g. retail and banking) began to expand and dominate western economies.

These industries have been responsible for the majority of economic growth in developed countries since deindustrialisation.

Question 12

Which sectors are in the service economy?

Answer 12

• Tertiary sector
• Quaternary sectors

Question 13

Tertiary sector

Answer 13

Service activities such as financial support, transport, health, hospitality and education.

Question 14

Quaternary sector

Answer 14

Activities where knowledge, research or ideas are the main output, such as advertising, software, design and computer programming.

Question 15

Decentralisation

Answer 15

The movement of industry away from the inner city. This is mainly because the inner city had outdated infrastructure, low productivity and a lack of suitable land for expansion.

Question 16

Why does decentralisation happen?

Answer 16

As land prices in city centres increase, businesses such as shops and offices may relocate to the suburbs. This has led to the rise of out-of-town retail parks, e.g. Kingstown in Carlisle.

Question 17

What does decentralisation cause?

Answer 17

This has led to the rise of out-of-town retail parks, e.g. Kingstown in Carlisle.

Decentralisation has caused city centre shops and offices to close – this has led to buildings being abandoned, job losses and urban poverty.

Question 18

Urban resurgence

Answer 18

Urban resurgence refers to the regeneration, both economic and structural, of an urban area which has suffered a period of decline.

Question 19

Where has urban resurgence been seen?

Answer 19

An urban resurgence has been seen in many cities in recent years as gentrification and regeneration schemes have made city living more attractive.

Urban resurgence is usually encouraged through gentrification and urban regeneration.

Question 20

Gentrification

Answer 20

Gentrification refers to the change in the neighbourhood composition. It is where low-income groups are displaced by affluent people.

Question 21

Who carry out gentrification?

Answer 21

Gentrification is not carried out by schemes or supported bodies, rather it is individuals or small groups which alter the area. It involves the rehabilitation of old houses and streets. Often businesses will be replaced with better quality shops, restaurants, and services.

Question 22

Case Study: Portland Road, London

Answer 22

Before gentrification, the area was one of the poorest in London. Now it is very popular with the middle/upper classes, who want to stay in the city for its cultural and work benefits.

There was a huge increase in house prices in the 1980s, fuelled by large pay packets and bonuses for the bankers in the City of London.

Average house prices in the…
o North end: £340,000
o Middle: £2.1m
o South end: £3.5m

Question 23

Urban policy

Answer 23

The strategies chosen by local or central government to manage the development of urban areas and reduce urban problems.

Question 24

Case Study: Salford Quays

Answer 24

Salford Quays previously was known as the Manchester docks. It was primarily used to export cotton made by cotton mills in Lancashire. As Manchester is not near the coast, a ship canal was constructed from the centre of Salford to the Mersey estuary, near Liverpool.

It was officially opened in 1894 by Queen Victoria.

At its height, Manchester Docks were the third largest port in Britain (after London and Liverpool.) There were around 5,000 ships arriving each year with about 75,000 people in dock related employment. This caused the population of Salford to skyrocket. It went from a town on the outskirts of Manchester with a population of 7,000 to a city with a huge population of 220,000.

However, this period of economic growth did not last forever. In the 1970s, Manchester docks were in decline because of outdated infrastructure, deindustrialisation, containerisation, strikes and foreign competition. In 1982, Manchester docks closed.

They remained disused until 1984, when it was bought by Salford Council. Investment later came from a variety of sources including the EU, national lottery, arts council, millennium commission and the private sector.

It was then regenerated into Salford Quays with mixed land use; living, working and recreation/entertainment. Most of the development happened since 2000, with the Flagship project, the Lowry, opening in 2000 at a cost of £98 million.

After the opening of the Lowry, many other major development projects started, including the Lowry outlet mall in 2001, the Imperial War Museum North in 2002 and MediaCityUK in 2007. By 2014, MediaCityUK had over 800 businesses on site and created over 26,000 jobs. Since then, many more areas have been developed, creating over 15,000 jobs.