CSMP-Birmingham CS

Question 1

What is a conurbation?

Answer 1

A large urban area in population and areal terms, made from the merging of previously separated towns

Question 2

Where is Birmingham located?

Answer 2

-Birmingham is a large metropolitan region at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation
-South west of Liverpool

Question 3

What is the demography of Birmingham?

Answer 3

• Rapid population growth in 1700s due to rural to urban migration for factory work
• 50s/60s saw significant international migration from Caribbean and SE. Asia, leading to the opening of mosques, international supermarkets, the Balti triangle etc.
• Youthful population with 38% aged 24 or younger in 2014
• Many students (approximately 50,000) (knowledge economy)

Question 4

What are the socio-economic conditions of birmingham?

Answer 4

• 1700-1900: increasing middle class population meant areas of the city related to class status
• 50% employed in metalworking in 20th century
• Unemployment less than 1% during the 50s and 60s
• By 1982 unemployment was 19.4% with income falling from amongst the highest to the lowest in UK
• 1999 NDCs scheme led to broadband in the deprived inner city and work experience programmes set up to improve unemployment levels
• The £700 million investment in New Street Station created 1000 jobs
• Student population increases spending and creates a youthful workforce

Question 5

What are the economic change of birmingham?

Answer 5

• Pre-industrial: Small metal working industry, agriculture
• Industrial Revolution: 15,000 population by 1700 with 1st factory in world built in 1761, with gun, jewellery and brass industries dominating
• 20th century: 50% of employment in metalworking and vehicle manufacturing eg. Austin, Dunlop
• 70s: Recession caused by increased competition from TNCs and union strikes led to less investment and fewer jobs
• 2000: Percentage working in finance/business rose by 14% from 1978 and proportion in metalworking/vehicles fell by 22.6%
• Economy has transitioned from being heavily dominated by industry to the majority of people working in the tertiary and quaternary sectors

Question 6

What is infrastructure like in birmingham?

Answer 6

• Industrial revolution saw the building of the London-Birmingham railway and the national canal network (Birmingham is the hub)
• Increasing middle classes living in suburbs throughout the 20th century led to trams and buses
• HS2 link being built in 21st century to connect London to the North
• Hub of the national motorway network
• New street station was refurbished to stimulate economic growth: passenger numbers have increased from 170,000 to 240,000+ a day - now linked to Bullring shopping centre

Question 7

What is the environment/buildings like in Birmingham?

Answer 7

• Pre-industrial: half a dozen streets focused on parish church
• Terraced houses were squeezed between factories in inner city (high-density, poor quality, polluted)
• Suburbs in 20th century were mainly semi-detached or council estates
• In WW2 houses were bombed so from 1945-70 over 80,000 new homes were built including 400 tower blocks replacing slums
• Fewer people living in inner city (commuters from suburbs)
• Green belt around city means adjacent land value has increased
• £235 million EU grant has been used to improve social housing in the city

Question 8

What is the role of government in Birmingham?

Answer 8

• Promotes the city to attract inward investment through projects such as NEC and airport expansion
• 1999 NDCs scheme provided inner city broadband and regenerated old industrial areas
• City council promote internationally w/ £235 million EU grant

Question 9

What is the role of transport in Birmingham?

Answer 9

• £700 million investment in New Street Station created the Grand Central area creating 1000 jobs in offices, shops and restaurants
• HS2 rail link to London (£20 billion) involves TNCs, banks, community groups, NGOs and gov. with the aim to increase investment by cutting journey time to just 50 minutes
• Birmingham is the hub of the national motorway network

Question 10

What is the role of planning in Birmingham?

Answer 10

• Public spaces developed in the centre, with town hall and bullring refurbished to attract visitors
• ICC and Symphony hall opened in 1991, benefiting local hotels etc.
• Student population of 50,000 employs many and provides a market for goods/services as well as attracting businesses which hire graduates
• City centre pedestrianised and canals revitalised by government, private sector and the Canal and River Trust

Question 11

What are the cultural characteristics of Birmingham during the 1900 to 1950s?

Answer 11

-Population was overwhelmingly white in ethnic origin