Human Geography- Regenerating Places Questions Flashcards
What does the term function mean?
An areas primary or main use e.g retail, industrial, agricultural.
Why do places function change over time?
To increase the income to an area, or attract investment or people to move and settle into the area. Industrial decline, diversification.
What impact does a change in function have?
To suit the demographic (population living in an area).Could lose specific jobs and gain others e.g loss or gain in manufacturing, lose high skill jobs like quaternary sector and gain trades.
What role do, physical factors, accessibility and connectedness, historical development and local and national planning have on the function of an area?
Physical factors such as landscape and soil will determine if the area is suited for agriculture
If the land is flat it will be easy to build on.
Accessibility could see an area become a commuter town for major cities, this could lead to investment into these area to further improve infrastructure.
Wider range of jobs will come to an area as investment continues to rise for an area as it will attract businesses to set up in the area.
How can changes in functions be measured?
Land use
Demographics
Employment structure.
How does a change in function cause:
a) Changes in employment?
b) Demographic changes?
c) Deprivation?
a. economic structure PSTQ could change to suit the type of people living in an area.
b. If prices in an area rise, gentrification may occur.
If schools or universities are put into an area studentification may occur.
c) May attract more investment decreasing dperivation as more services and businesses are attracted into setting up in the area.
What regional influences have impacted Wokings functions?
Pressure from Surrey County Council to build more houses and improve services as population grows. Railway line direct to London. Better Education improving number of qualified adults in the town- Surrey University.
What national influences have impacted Woking’s functions?
Reccession - led to unemployement
Increasing housing prices
Globalisation- more skilfully required jons, more laws involving discrimination.
How are different groups in Woking affected by its changes?
Best colleges and schools in country are located within Woking leading to better education of students - better qualified adults, therefore can obtain higher skilled jobs and earn a higher income.
What international and global influences have shaped Woking (think TNCs)?
Cap Gemini, SAAB Miller. More TNCs are setting up due to a highly skilled workforce in the area. These companies will offer further training and therefore improving skills of local workforce. Woking is well connected due to its high quality public transport. Government offer incentives to TNCs to set up in these areas. Semi-rural and cheaper than London.
How have the lives of the residents been impacted by this?
Elderly forced to move out due to rising housing prices. Young professionals move in, low income families cant afford the area anymore either and are also forced out, this means that the people become isolated and there is less community output.
How has the economic and social changes inferenced peoples identity in Woking?
Middle class identity has risen as wealth has increased in the town. Area has become gentrified as high income groups live in Woking to commute to London. Woking was once perceived as a lower class identity but as investment has increased into the area improving education and job range this has lead to a different perception.
What characteristics do successful areas have?
Good infrastructure - well connected, roads.
Investment-jobs-economy or education-qualifications-higher skilled workforce or services.
What characteristics do unsuccessful areas have?
Lack of investment into the area
Out migration-leading to brain drain; loss of skilled workers and so footloose industry moves out leading to spiral of decline
deindustrialisation- cycle of decline
How are priorities for regeneration decided?
Using census data to see what areas are the most deprived e.g multiple deprivation index. Also what areas are being regenerated will benefit society the most e.g. Stratford. Especially areas with sink estates as with it comes with a wide range of issues- social, economic and environmental.
Why do levels of engagement in local communities varies? What impact does this have?
This is because of demographics- if a local area has an older population this age group tends to get more involved as they have more time on their hands if they are retired.
Some people dont want to be involved, if there is little involvement or isolation of certain groups this can create activists- increase crime rates such as vandalism or theft.
