Leeds and Rio Flashcards
Where is Leeds located? Why is it regionally important? - Leeds/Rio
Leeds is located in West Yorkshire, England. It is 170 miles North of London and North East of Manchester. Leeds is regionally important as it is the largest city in the Yorkshire and Humber area, with jobs for its residents and commuters. Also provides shopping opportunities, leisure activities and is culturally important. Home to one of largest Northern airports.
Why is Leeds nationally important? Why is Leeds internationally important? - Leeds/Rio
Nationally - largest legal and financial centre outside of London, 4 universities, 4th largest student population in the country, centre of Northern powerhouse project.
Internationally - has international airport connecting area to the rest of the world, internationally recognisable city, attracts migrants from across the world (particularly Asia and Africa).
Where can suburbanisation/counter-urbanisation/urban resurgence be seen in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
Suburbanisation - Alwoodley, Adel, Horsforth
Counter-urbanisation - Wike, Bramhope, Harewood
Urban resurgence - South Bank/Holbeck
What % of Leeds’ population is minority ethnic? - Leeds/Rio
Leeds’ population is 18% minority ethnic.
What class of city is Leeds rated as globally? What does this mean? - Leeds/Rio
Leeds is rated as a ‘high sufficiency’ city, meaning that it provides a large degree of services on its own without being dependent on world cities.
How does physical geography impact the urban morphology of Leeds?
Leeds is surrounded by a green belt of land, with this threatened by the need for the area to expand following urban sprawl. The city is largely built around the River Aire, which has previously played a key role in the area’s growth and trade/industry.
What examples of town centre mixed developments/cultural and heritage quarters exist in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
Town centre mixed developments: South Bank/Trinity Centre
Cultural and heritage quarter: First Direct Arena, Corn Exchange, Leeds Grand, Opera North, WYPH.
What examples are there of gentrification/fortress developments in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
Gentrification: Hyde Park/Headingley (student populations seen house prices rise 30%)
Fortress developments: suburban areas such as Adel, Harewood and Roundhay
What are examples of aspects of Leeds resembling post-modern western cities? - Leeds/Rio
Leeds has expressive architecture such as Bridgwater Place and the Trinity Shopping Centre, its economy revolves around the tertiary/quaternary sector, has high levels of cultural diversity (12.6% of population born outside the UK).
What economic challenges exist in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
Leeds has mass discrepancies in wealth between areas such as Horsforth and Beeston, while 150,000 people live in absolute poverty. The average house price is 7x the average Leeds income.
What issues of social segregation exist in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
High concentrations of ethnic minorities in certain areas may cause racial tensions, 11,000 people sought housing assistance from council recently, net loss of 8,000 council houses since 2009.
What issues of cultural diversity exist in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
12% of Leeds’ population born outside of the UK (deepening racial tensions), 22% of primary school children do not speak English as their first language (stretching education budgets).
What % of Beeston and Holbeck’s children live in child poverty? What % of Horsforth’s children do? - Leeds/Rio
38% of B+H’s children live in child poverty, compared to 13% in Horsforth.
What is Beeston and Holbeck’s life expectancy? What is Horsforth’s? - Leeds/Rio
B+H: 78
Horsforth: 84
What % of houses in Beeston and Holbeck lack central heating? What % of houses lack it in Horsforth? - Leeds/Rio
9.4% of houses in B+H lack central heating, compared to 3.3% in Horsforth.
What issues with urban climate are there in Leeds? (Neville Street) - Leeds/Rio
Leeds city centre is incredibly polluted, with Neville Street the worst polluted street outside of London. Had 2x suggested NO2 limit. Also experiences an urban heat island.
What causes water pollution in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
Leeds has water pollution caused by industrial waste from textile/chemical industry, as well as domestic waste due to lack of water treatment in the Aire.
What causes air pollution in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
Air pollution in Leeds is caused by vehicle exhausts and wood burners, which produce particulate matter. NO2 is also produced by vehicle exhausts.
What causes dereliction in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
1950s deindustrialisation caused dereliction created by the loss of textile and other heavy industry.
What are impacts of water pollution in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
At times of low rainfall, river could be 70% pollutants and 30% natural water. The oxygen in the river would be starved off by pollutants, creating a terrible smell.
What are impacts of air pollution in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
4.5% of adult deaths in Leeds are associated with air pollution. Adults now 21x more likely to die from particulate matter complications than from road accidents. Neville Street most polluted street outside of London.
What are impacts of dereliction in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
Dereliction has created a post-industrial landscape, especially in South Leeds, some buildings have been regenerated. Derelict buildings act as eyesores on the landscape.
What are solutions to water pollution in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
A group called ‘Eye on the Aire’ was formed in the 1980s, made up of 30 local organisations, campaigning for remediation and treatment of river by Yorkshire Water.
What are solutions to air pollution in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
A clean air charging zone has been introduced, with £50 charge on heavily polluting vehicles travelling within the outer Leeds Ring Road. Free trials of electric vehicles have been introduced, while public/active transport schemes have been invested in.
What solutions are there to dereliction in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
Regeneration of previously derelict sites such as Brewery Wharf has taken place. Furthermore, the Tetley has also been regenerated to create a community hub. Brownfield sites are being redeveloped to improve environmental quality.
What positives and negatives are there of solutions to combat water pollution in Leeds? - Leeds/Rio
Positives: water quality has improved since 1980s, wildlife (otters, herons, salmon) returned to the river, increased investment in areas which have become de-polluted.
Negatives: remediation and treatment cost millions of pounds, people continue to submerge waste in the river with a plastic island developing in the river.