Eastleigh Flashcards
What is Eastleigh
Eastleigh is a “railway town”, situated in Hampshire, between Southampton and Winchester. The town and its surrounding area is also a government district which has its own seat in the House of Commons. As of 2018, the population of the town of Eastleigh was around 24,000 while Eastleigh district (Eastleigh and its surrounding areas), numbered around 132,000 people.
Topography
Eastleigh lies on the floodplain of the River Itchen - the flat relief allowed the expansion of the town into agricultural and common land that was previously used for grazing and growing crops. Proximity to the river also ensures there is plenty of fertile land nearby.
Links
Eastleigh is exceptionally well linked to other towns and cities across the UK, with it being right next to the M27 and M3 motorways, having Eastleigh Station and Southampton Airport Parkway Station that have links to cities such as London, Birmingham and Southampton, and having Southampton Airport all right on its doorstep.
In 2006, Eastleigh was named the 9th best place to live in the UK on the Channel 4 programme “Best and Worst Places to Live”. The number of jobs, as well as the excellent transport links, were cited as some of the main reasons for this.
Flows- People
Migration of EU migrants (mainly eastern european, 3% of total population)
Movement of young professionals into Eastleigh, due to infrastructure to commute to Southampton/London - Eastleigh is a “Dormitory town”. So lots of people don’t work in Eastleigh but live and sleep there, using the excellent accessibility (infrastructure) to commute to Southampton or London.
International cricket at the Ageas Bowl attracts some tourists to come and watch the matches
Flows- Capital
Private + public investments to new employment opportunities, facilities and major infrastructure developments, e.g. Fleming Park leisure centre now known as Places Leisure, housing estates
Eastleigh borough council recently opened Ageas bowl Hilton + golf course, 500 employment opportunities, £50 million to local economy
MNCs bring money into the town
Eastleigh town centre is a hub of local businesses and employment, with many pubs, barbers, places for entertainment and places to eat and stay
Flows- Resources
House building brings construction resources into the town
Cable manufacturing brings mineral resources in e.g. copper for internet transmission
Goods from the port at Southampton may end up on trains that travel through Eastleigh’s railway to be delivered throughout the country. Some of these goods may be unloaded in Eastleigh for nearby delivery
Demand for energy brings energy resources.
Flows- Ideas
Point theatre brings in cultural opportunities and events
Sorting office is an art and creative space for local creative producers
Vue cinema brings cinematic ideas from global producers, screens opera, ballet + theatre productions
There are multiple churches in eastleigh and over 76% of Eastleigh’s population declared their religion as Christian in the last census
External agents of change
Top down MNCS - Ageas (HQ in Brussels, UK HQ in Eastleigh), Prysmian (cable company with international HQ in Eastleigh)
Central government - Highways England invested £19 million into M27 bridge repair scheme at junction 3
Also allocated £3.1 million to local businesses as part of a COVID 19 relief programme
International and global institutions - Sorting office converted by Recreate. Before Brexit, EU funding programme brought empty commercial buildings back to life
Community groups - Once Community Volunteering Centre (food banks + helps people with aspects of life e.g. finance, employability), Highbridge Community Farm (local food, promotes healthy lifestyle)
