london

Question 1

location and importance

Answer 1

• capital and largest city in the UK with a pop. of 8.8 million in 2021
• important global transport hub - second best global air connections
• global finance hub - accounts for 22% of GDP

Question 2

international migration

Answer 2

• after WW2, immigrants arrived from parts of the British Empire
• free movement within EU has caused many from eastern Europe
• migrants often live near each other for support create vibrant communities
• multicultural city (e.g. Chinatown)
• two categories: low skilled who take up jobs in low demand (refuse collection, janitors, pizza delivery) or where there are shortages (nurses), and high-skilled, taking up well paid jobs in knowledge economy

Question 3

national migration

Answer 3

• internal migrants tend to be young adults, whereas external migrants tend to be older
• pull factors attract the young, however tend to leave when they have a family - one of the reasons for counter- urbanisation

Question 4

economic opportunities

Answer 4

• significant growth in services sector, particularly finance, driving London’s economic growth
• multiplier effect
• TfL meets rapid population growth needs - reduces traffic congestions and CO2 emissions, however it has led to urban sprawl, connecting the Tube to the suburbs

Question 5

environmental opportunities

Answer 5

• considered ones of the greenest areas in the world - 47% covered by green spaces
• 8.3 million trees
• 13,000 species in London thriving in green spaces
• improves mental wellbeing

Question 6

social opportunities

Answer 6

• multiculturalism - 41% of London’s pop. born outside the UK
• diversity of culinary options, music, broad understanding of diversity, social cohesion
• the world’s first National Park City - outdoor activities and relaxation
• wealth of cultural and historical landmarks, museums and art galleries, music and sporting venues

Question 7

economic challenges

Answer 7

• deindustrialization - limited jobs in manufacturing sector, fewer jobs for the unskilled
• therefore, higher levels of deprivation
• third least equal city - high levels of inequality
• 76 percent employment rate, just above national average

Question 8

social challenges

Answer 8

• migrants place pressure on public services, including healthcare and education - inequality of level of services in different areas
• 100, 000 more people coming in every year, however only 20,000 new houses constructed every year
• demand for housing - have to be constructed on brownfield sites (expensive to clean up but do not use up more space) or on outskirts in greenfield sites (cheaper, damages more areas and biodiversity)
• 74.3 percent of state educated students achieved grades 9 to 4, compared to 69 percent national average

Question 9

environmental challenges

Answer 9

• lots of derelict buildings from deindustrialization, frequently contaminated, clean up costs high
• lots of waste, and nearly a quarter is still disposed in landfills
• target of sending zero waste to landfills by 2030 - increasing recycling rates or being burned to generate electricity
• lots of air pollution from road vehicles
• impermeable surfaces - less infiltration and more surface runoff, increasing flood risk

Question 10

impacts of urban sprawl

Answer 10

• loss of countryside, biodiversity and habitats
• increase in air pollution and congestion
• brownfield areas more expensive to install, but can make use of already installed services
• small towns begin to lose character, becoming too expensive for most people, and experience cultural erosion