Changing Places - Unit 2

Question 1

Describe the decline of the inner city

Answer 1

• Industrial change/decline
  In the 1950’s, employment in heavy industries declined and many factories closed or moved out of the centre. In the inner cities they lacked space for expansion and were constrained by poor transport facilities
• Increasing unemployment
  As factories closed, many lost their jobs, increasing unemployment and poverty in these areas
• Decline of shops/services
  Many shops, such as banks, cinemas and pubs were forced to close due to lack of custom brought on by increasing poverty
• Decline of housing and environment
  The poor quality housing, built in 19th century, was becoming more run down and by the 1960s many had slum-like conditions. Many empty factories, shops and houses were vandalised and crime rates rose. Derelict land became a dumping ground for litter and rubbish

-The inner city in decline

Question 2

Social exclusion in deindustrialised places

Answer 2

The process to this exclusion is called filtering:

• Deindustrialisation within an area = unemployment
• Outward migration of people with higher levels of skills and education occurs as they find work elsewhere
• Remaining population decline in number. They suffer high unemployment and have low skill/education levels
• Lower population with a lack of spending power causes a closure of further local shops/services. The remaining population lack access to key services
• Remaining population suffer social exclusion and deprivation

Question 3

Case study of deprivation: Ladywood

Key facts?

Answer 3

• In 2008, ‘The Campaign to End Child Poverty’ revealed that Ladywood has 81% of families fighting for financial survival
• In 2010, the BBC reported that Ladywood had the highest rate of unemployment out of all the constituencies in the UK
• 47% child poverty

Question 4

What policies have the British Government introduced in deindustrialised area?

Answer 4

• Encourage new economic growth
• Retraining local populations
• Improving the environment

Question 5

What is an enterprise zone?

Answer 5

An area in which state incentives such as tax concessions are offered to encourage business investment

Question 6

Summarise the case study: HSBC Arena Central (encouraging new economic growth)

Answer 6

• Masterplan to deliver 1.2 million square foot of mixed-use development
• The zones will attract £1.5 billion in investments = 50,000 new jobs

Question 7

Retraining local populations

Answer 7

• Regional Development Agencies (RDA’s) were launched in 1999 and established in 2010
• Key objective = “to enhance development and application of skills relevant to employment”
• E.g. Advantage West Midlands

Question 8

Improving the environment

Answer 8

• Advantage West Midlands also played a key role in the reclamation and re-use of ‘brownfield land’
• A brownfield site contains land previously used for industrial purposes or commercial uses
• An example of such schemes = Birmingham’s Eastside Redevelopment
• Invested £68 million in this 20 year project to transform the Eastside of Birmingham City Centre