Changing Urban Environments

Question 1

Describe the work of an Urban Development Corporation

Answer 1

• London Docklands
• 1981-1998
• Regeneration of London Docklands including: new roads, railways, industry and businesses
• Involved local authorities and LDDC
• Funding: £1.86billion public sector and £7.7billion private investment
• 24,046 new homes built
• New schools, college and health centres built
• 762 hectares of derelict land reclaimed

Question 2

Describe the work of a City Challenge scheme

Answer 2

• Manchester The Hulme City Challenge Partnership
• 1990s
• Housing and community facilities improved, shopping provision and environment enhanced
• Involved Local authorities, private companies and local communities
• Funding: £37.5million from local authorities and private companies
• Housing built in crescents in the 1960s demolished and replaced with new pleasant energy efficient homes.
• traditional layout
• some old buildings kept to maintain history

Question 3

Describe a case study method to reduce traffic problems in urban environments

Answer 3

• London Congestion Zone
• Charges introduced in 2003
• Motorists charged £10 per day to enter zone between 7am and 6pm.
• System controlled using Automatic Number Plate recognition
• Drivers fined between £60 and £180 for non-payment of congestion charges
• 70,000 fewer cars enter the original congestion zone each day
• congestion charges generate about £140million a year, invested in improving other aspects of London’s transport

Question 4

Describe a case study method to improve ethnic integration

Answer 4

• Leeds, Yorkshire
• Increase achievement of children by improving educational opportunities in deprived areas
• Improve literacy in areas where english=second language
• increase employment
• increase community involvement so needs of minority groups are understood and met
• providing facilities to encourage meetings of all sections of a community.

Question 5

Describe problems in an LEDC squatter settlement

Answer 5

• Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya
• 60% Nairobi’s inhabitants live in squatter settlements (1/2 in Kibera)
• Very high population density
• At least 100,000 children are orphans as a result of HIV/AIDS
• Ditches between houses filled with sewage/human waste
• Rubbish covers the area as no collection
• constant smell of burning charcoal (used as fuel) and of human waste
• Crime is huge and police are reluctant to enter
• Private companies charge double the going rate of water through hosepipes
• Unstable houses made of mud, plastered over boards and wood/corrugated iron sheets

Question 6

Describe solutions to the problems in this LEDC squatter settlement

Answer 6

• British Charity practical action have helped to develop low cost roof tiles (from sand and clay) and building blocks (from lime and nature fibres in soil) which are cheaper than concrete.
• Allows self help schemes
• UN Human Settlement Programme helps to provide affordable electricity to some areas
• Two main water pipes
• Improving sanitation is very difficult and slow
• medical facilities provided by charities
• In 2003 a 15 year long project began to rehouse thousands of residents of kibera (in the first year 770 families were rehoused in new flat blocks with running water, toilets, showers and electricity)

Question 7

Describe the work of Bed-ZED, South London

Answer 7

• Opened in 2002
• zero carbon living (save as much energy as possible)
• 100 households living in apartments
• Wind turbines and biomass boilers to generate power
• Buildings are well insulated
• Rainwater is collected and reused
• Residents use public transport or bikes and have shared cars
• Residents try and buy locally produced food and recycle their waste
• Reduces Carbon footprint