Contemporary urban environments Flashcards
Urbanisation
Urbanisation is the increase in the proportion of people who live in urban
environments
Suburbanisation
The increased movement of people, services and infrastructure from the inner pats of a city outwards to the outer edge
How has suburbanisation been facilitated over the years
- Growth of public transport
- The increased use of the private car
- Railway lines and arterial roads
Suburbanisation- 1930s
Few planning controls and so urban growth took place along main roads known as ribbon development
Suburbanisation- 1940s
Continued growth between ribbons became a cause for concern and so it led to the creation of green belts
What are green belts?
Areas of open space and low density land use around towns where any further development are strictly controlled
Suburbanisation- 1950s
Increasing suburban expansion better planned. Large scale construction took place of council housing in the only land available (suburban fringe).
Surbanisation- 1970s
A move towards house ownership that led to private housing estates being built, also on the urban fringe, allowing for more land for gardens and public open space.
As car ownership grew in the edge of town there was more land available for car parking and so it became the favoured location for new offices, outlets and factories ignoring the ‘strict control’ of green belts
Suburbanisation in recent years
- New, well established housing
- Quieter
- Less congested
- Less polluted environments
- Relatively cime free environments
- open areas (golf)
Negatives of suburbanisation
Increased social segregation within city as the wealthy move out to suburbs (inner London to Richmond) with poor remaining in the inner city
Diversion of funding away from inner city areas to the suburbs to pay for new infrastructure and services
Increased traffic congestion
Conversion of green spaces to artifical surfaces
Surburban expansion
Growth of the suburbs
Survey from Uni of Leicester about green spaces
A satellite survey by a research team found that between 2006 and 2012, 22,000 hectares of green space was converted to “artificial surfaces” – mostly housing. More than 7,000 hectares of forest was felled, -The Guardian 2015
Counter- urbanisation
The migration of people from major urban areas to smaller urban settlements and rural areas reducing difference between rural and urban areas
Factors of counter- urbanisation
- Escape of air pollution, dirt and crime
- More land
- Aspiration to be the ‘rural idyll’
- Car ownership and greater affluence allows for commuting to work
- Rising demand for second homes and earlier retirement
- Farmers selling land for money
- Technology developments
Evidence for counter- urbanisation
- Increase in use of a commuter railway station in the area
- Increased value of houses
- Construction of more executive housing in area following demolition of old property
- Conversion of former farm buildings to exclusive residences
Negatives of counter- urbanisation
Tension between newcomers and locals
- local services closing down ( Bus services, schools, post offices, churches and parishes) as newcomers have wealth and mobility to continue use of urban services
Demographic change in rural settlement
- Out migration of young village born population for education and employment opportunities
- Decline of elderly village born population by death
- In migration of young to middle aged couples/ families with children
- In migration of younger, affluent people increasing house prices
Positives of counter urbanisation
-Some shops see an increase in business – newer residents/retired people have more disposable income.
-Older housing and building are restored by housing developers.
-Farmers are able to make money by selling land.
-As newer residents (with families) move into smaller towns and villages the local services, such as schools are able to stay open,they may have had to close due to a lack of students previously
Negatives of counter- urbanisation
-The newer developments might affect the local character of the area.
-Due to more residents having the ability to travel to cities and shop online the local shops and services may close.
-Rural roads and infrastructure will struggle to cope with traffic. This causes congestion and air pollution.
-Schools may have to close if all the new residents are older people with no children.
-House prices are going to increase, this might mean only older people can afford the housing, and it may push the local people out of the area.
Management of housing in counter- urbanised rural settlements
-Sometimes the developments are only allowed to be built if they fit in with the rest of the area. e.g. Houses need to be built in the traditional style.
-Some companies will offer mobile services.e.g. NatWest has mobile banking vans which visit rural areas in Cornwall and Devon.
-Local occupancy clause – People need to have lived in the area for at least 3 years.
Example of counter-urbanisation
- St Ives
St Ives, Cambridgeshire
- In 1961 the population was just 3800, however in 2010 the population has reached 16,400 with a quarter commuting to London each day.
Impacts in St Ives
A14 traffic congestion causing a big problem during rush hour.
The average house price in St. Ives rose from £130,000 to £291,000 between 2000 and 2010. Commuters can afford these high prices, whilst locals cannot.
To cope with the demand of housing, new developments are being built on the floodplain on the River Great Ouse.
The population structure of the area has changed, the population was ageing, however now there are younger people and families putting a strain on schools.
Management in St Ives
-Future developments are going to be controlled to fit into the area.
-There are plans to expand primary schools which can give 240 more places
-Along the river they are building flood protection works that cost £8.8 million. This included new embankments and flood walls.
-A £116 million busway has been built that links St. Ives to Huntingdon and Cambridge. This will hopefully reduce congestion as they will not need to travel on the A14.
-In 2010 plans were approved to build 200 new homes. 75 of those houses are going to be affordable housing. The houses are going to be:
Social rent
Low cost ownership
Urban resurgence
The resurgence, economically and structually, of an urban area which has suffered a period of decline