Changing Cities Flashcards
An Urban World
Over the last 50 years, urbanisation has occurred at different rates and in different ways in developed, emerging and developing countries - with different effects.
Global Trends
More than half the world’s population now lives in towns and cities as a result of urbanisation. Current trends predict that the urban population could rise to 5 billion by 2030.
Variations of Urbanisation
- In developed countries, the main cause of urbanisation is industrialisation.
○ For example, in the UK in the 18th/19th centuries the mechanisation of farming and rise of factory jobs meant people moved rural areas to cities. - In emerging and developing countries, recent rapid urbanisation has been caused by:
○ rural to urban migration - people moving from rural areas for a better quality of life
○ natural increase - birth rates in these countries are higher than death rates.
Effects of Urbanisation
As urbanisation increases and cities grow:
- in developing countries, illegal, unplanned shanty towns often develop
- air, noise and water pollution all increase
- gap between rich and poor widens - often more in emerging and developing countries
- investment increases, leading to greater economic opportunities.
Explain one effect of rapid urbanisation in emerging countries like Brazil.
One of the effects of rapid urbanisation in Brazil is the increase in illegal and unplanned shanty towns. These develop because there is not enough permanent housing for people migrating to urban areas.
UK Urbanisation Differences
A range of factors has caused the rate and degree of urbanisation to vary between different regions and centres in the UK.
Population distribution is uneven in the UK, but is generally lower in the north and higher in the south. The overall population density of the UK is 266 people/km².
Major urban centres have the highest population density. London has the highest population density in the UK, with over 5000 people/km². In the major cities of London, Liverpool and Portsmouth the population density is over 3000 people/km².
Why population density varies?
- In the north, the population density tends to be lower because there are fewer major cities and the high relief of the land makes it more difficult to build settlements.
- The population density may also be lower in certain parts of the UK because of the climate. In Scotland, the cooler climate makes living in the area more difficult due to more extreme weather conditions.
- One of the reasons for the higher urban populations in the UK is the locations of ports. For example, Liverpool is a densely populated city because of its port, which provides opportunities for industry and employment.
Explain two factors that causes differences in the rate of urbanisation between different UK regions.
One factor that causes the rate of urbanisation to be different between UK regions is whether an area specialises in a particular type of manufacturing or not. This happened a lot in the Industrial Revolution. For example, Birmingham developed a specialism in brass production. This boosted wealth and employment in the area, and people moved in from other areas to live near the factories.
Another factor that has caused different rates of urbanisation in different areas is whether there have been improvements in transport in the area or not. When one place gets better road and rail connections, this increased connectivity attracts people to live there, rather than in less connected centres.
Context and Structure - Birmingham City
You will need to know the site, situation, connectivity and structure of a named city in the UK. Here we look at Birmingham as an example.
Birmingham
○ Site - located on Birmingham plateau in a prime part of the Midlands region; began as a small village, built on a dry point site, south-facing sandstone ridge.
○ Situation - located centrally in England, Birmingham has excellent road links to the north and south.
○ Connectivity - a range of transport networks connecting the city at different scales: Birmingham International Airport, Birmingham New Street railway station, easy access to M5, M6, M6 toll and M42, providing national links to the West Midlands.
○ Cultural - a multicultural city with an estimated 22% of the population born outside the UK. In the 2011 census, 13.5% defined themselves as Pakistani and 6% as Indian.
○ Environmental - Birmingham is one of the leading cities for parks, with an estimated 571 parks covering 3500 hectares. In 2010, the city was ranked 15th for sustainable cities in the UK.
Birmingham City Structure
○ CBD - Main hub of city with offices, shops, theatres and hotels. Redevelopment has introduced new buildings recently, e.g. Bullring Shopping Centre.
○ Inner City - Redeveloped in 1970s. Tightly packed terraces and blocks of flats.
○ Suburbs - Built during the 1930s, 1950s and 1960s. Building density is much lower, mainly semi-detached housing.
○ Urban-rural fringe - Fewer, larger, more recently built detached houses. Out-of-town shopping centres and industrial units also sited here.
A Changing UK City
You will need to know how a named UK city is being changed by movements of people, employment and services.
Processes that change a city
○ Urbanisation
- influenced by manufacturing, e.g. jewellery
- small housing built for working coming in from countryside, e.g. Small Heath
○ Suburbanisation
- 1920s rising population meant building new housing on outskirts of city
- new estates, mainly semi-detached houses
○ Counter-urbanisation
- five new comprehensive development areas built in inner city
- people forced out of urban areas to places like Redditch
○ Re-urbanisation
- more people want to live in centre again, close to work/amenities
- modernisation of flats and building of new apartments near canal
National Migration
In Birmingham, the main causes are:
- people moving out to retirement destinations in the south, such as Bournemouth
- people moving in because increased investment in Birmingham’s CBD has created more employment opportunities.
International Migration
In Birmingham, the main causes are:
- people moving in currently who have fled conflict in countries such as Syria
- people moving in in the past in response to employee shortages, encouraged by the UK government to fill key job posts.
Impacts of Migration
- Younger population: with migrants settling in Birmingham, the percentage of people aged 20-35 is higher than the UK average - 66% of the population is under 45.
- Multiculturalism: 42% of residents are from ethnic groups other than white; 16% do not have English as a main language.
- Ethnic communities: in the 1970s, many migrants settled in Sparkbrook and Sparkhill (cheaper housing). Communities have developed with their own shops, places of worship.
- Housing: in 2015, it was estimated that the city’s housing demands were higher than expected, rising by an extra 5000.
- Services: having more people in the city is putting increased pressure on key services, such as GP surgeries.
Globalisation and Economic Change
You will need to know the causes of deindustrialisation (the decline of industries in an area) and the impacts this has had on a named UK city.
Population Characteristics of Birmingham
- In 2014, Birmingham had a total population of approximately 1.1 million people - an increase of 9.9% since 2004.
- Birmingham has a youthful population. In 2014, 22.9% of the population were children - approximately 19% higher than both the regional and national averages.
- In 2014, 13.1% of people living in Birmingham were of pensionable age - lower than both the regional (18%) and national (17.6%) averages.
- The key reasons for population growth in Birmingham City are an increase in the number of births, a rise in international migration and a declining death rate from improved health care.
Globalisation
Increased imports of foreign cars - less demand for cars produced in Birmingham.
Developments in Transport
1970s ring road built - some factories removed to make way for route - affects local economy; creates unemployment; need to retain workers.
