BIRMINGHAM- urban challenges Flashcards
what is the distribution of the UK’s population?
- majority in major cities like London
- ver few people up north in Scotland
where is Birmingham located in relation to human and physical features?
- central England
- close to towns like Solihull, Coventry
- prime location for transport of goods
- major motoways, M5, M42
what is Birmingham’s role on the wider world?
- industry, first steam engine, so mass transport
- alternative business hub to London
- eg HSBC £200 million investment in new head quarters
what are the positives of ethnicity distribution in Birmingham?
- greater cultural awareness
- new food, events
- range of stores
what are the negatives of ethnicity distribution in Birmingham?
- not much diversity
- hate crime
- over crowded
- racism
- people don’t find out about other cultures
what are the social, economic and environmental opportunities urban change has created in Birmingham?
- social + economic= culture mix, recreation and entertainment, employment, transport systems
- environmental= urban greening
how has cultural mixing created opportunities?
- ‘Balti Triangle’ south of Birmingham city centre. high concentration go baltic restaurants.
- greater variety= food, fashion, religion
- attracts tourists and more taxes payed
how has recreation and entertainment created opportunities?
- symphony hall, library, restaurants
- attract people from outside Birmingham
how has new transport systems created opportunities?
- midland metro (tram)= snow hill to new street, 1300 jobs
- trains grand central= 37seconds train arrives, 400 new carriages
- pedestrianisation= ecofriendly
- ring road removal= less pollution, easier to walk into city
what is urban greening?
the process of increasing and preserving open spaces such as public parks ad gardens in urban areas.
what is an example of urban greening in Birmingham?
east side park, improves green way network, links brooks and other small ecosystems
what are the social, economic and environmental challenges urban change has created in Birmingham?
- social+economic= urban deprivations, housing inequality, education, health and employment
- environmental= dereliction, building on brown and green field sites, waste disposal
- urban sprawl on rural urban fringe and commuter settlements
how has urban deprivation caused challenges?
- high urban deprivation in city centre
- high unemployment in centre
how has housing inequality caused challenges?
- population new 6x faster than houses built
- 10,000 in 2014-1015
- natural growth and immigrants from abroad and UK
how has health inequality caused challenges?
- people in the north and south live longer than people who live in central Birmingham
- more urba deprivation in central Birmingham
how has dereliction caused challenges?
- attract squatters
- attract rats
- lower value of local properties
- increase crime rate
what is a brown field site?
a previously developed piece of land now available for redevelopment
what is a green field site?
an undeveloped piece of land with proposal first time development
how has waste disposal caused challenges?
- by 2030 70% will be recycled
- aim to reduce the amount of waste by 10%
- not enough funding
- people are lazy and not willing to help
what is urban sprawl?
the spread of city buildings and houses into an area that used to be countryside
why has Birmingham sprawled?
migration
more industry
easier transport
population growth
what are the characteristics of commuter settlements?
- train stations
- larger houses
- transport links
- main roads that link to city centre
what is an urban regeneration project which happened in Birmingham?
the big city plan
key facts about the big city plan?
- bring £2.1 billion to economy each year
- 600million on new street station
- 50,000 new jobs
why was the redevelopment needed?
- voted ugliest translation in UK
- over crowed
- 170,000 people using station but only built for 60,000
- poor impression on Birmingham
what did the big city plan involve doing?
- shops, new platform, new entrances
- John Lewis to Birmingham and new high end retailers
- 1000 new permenant jobs
- new design
what made the big city plan sustainable?
- 60% of rainwater harvested to flush toilet buildings
- 300,000 passengers per day
- concret removed plastic replaced to allow light
how could cities like Birmingham be made more sustainable urban living?
- recycling waste
- creating green space
- water and energy conservation
what would be a better transport strategy to reduce traffic congestion within cities?
- more pedestrianised
- cycle paths
- buses
- train links
