London case study

Question 1

Importance of London on different scales

Answer 1

• Regionally: many people commute into and out of London
• Nationally: over 40 leading universities, main government is located here, generates 22% of UKs GDP
• Inernationally: considered a “world city”, one of 3 world financial centres, headquarters of many TNCs are here

Question 2

Impacts of migration on London

Answer 2

• Has impacted the character of the city and is now the most ethnically diverse city in UK
• London’s population is much younger than the rest of the UK
• The older population is smaller as they retire and leave the city
• Younger population so promotes natural increase

Question 3

Environmental challenges of London

Answer 3

• Only 32% of London’s waste is recycled which is the lowest in the country
• Industry and business have moved overseas for lower tax rates leading to high levels of dereliction
• Housing shortage has led to reclamation of land, resulting in increased urban sprawl and destruction of trees and habitats to build new homes

Question 4

Oppurtunities of urban change in London - employment

Answer 4

• Huge variety of employment from highly skilled sectors to low skilled service jobs
• London’s economy consists of 96% service positions

Question 5

Oppurtunities of urban change in London - entertainment

Answer 5

• Home to 857 different art galleries, such as the Tate Modern
• Home to 4 UNESCO world heritage sites

Question 6

Oppurtunities of urban change in London - culture

Answer 6

• Over 300 languages spoken inLondon, more than any other city in the world
• Brick Lane: offers a variety of food, art and usic from different places, making it culturally important

Question 7

Oppurtunities of urban change in London - transport

Answer 7

• London has an intergrated transport system: 240 tube stations and over 2.5 million tube journeys per day
• More than 90% of London’s residents live within 400m of a bus stop

Question 8

Oppurtunities of urban change in London - urban greening

Answer 8

• London is considered a “green space” due to its many parks
• 20% of London is covered in trees

Question 9

Challenges of urban change in London - employment

Answer 9

• Migrants are exploited and paid below minimum wage
• Unemployment increases in more deprived areas as people ack skills and education

Question 10

Challenges of urban change in London - housing

Answer 10

• Cost of housing is very high in London, leading to a housing disparity
• Rented houses are very expensive and in poor condition

Question 11

Challenges of urban change in London - deprivation

Answer 11

• Some areas in London are very deprived:
• 50% of people receive benefits in Newham
• 12 year differnce in life expectancy between West Ham and Knightsbridge

Question 12

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - information

Answer 12

• Lea Valley, East London was chosen for the park
• Newham is in the East of London
• Area required regeneration
• Area was chosen to host the 2012 London olympics

Question 13

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - problems

Answer 13

• Soil was contaminated by industrial pollution and needed to be cleaned before construction could begin
• River Lee was polluted and needed to be cleaned
• Transport was poor which meant the area was disconnected and prevented people from getting good jobs
• People who lived there were forced to sell their homes and move which led to protests

Question 14

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - solutions

Answer 14

• Bridges were built over the river and it was cleaned. Habitats were build on the river bank
• New homes, schools and nurseries were built
• After olympics, green space was sold to build new homes and clear debt
• 500 media jobs were created in the media sector however, these were temporary