London Docklands Deindustrialisation Flashcards
Describe De-Industrialisation
- De-Industrialisation is a nationwide process
- Between 1960 and 1981 more than 1.6 million jobs were lost in major UK urban areas, 75% of all job losses in this time period
- Most losses were in traditional manufacturing (secondary) industries
- The greatest consequences of deindustrialisation in all urban areas were always seen in inner city areas as these were the traditional location for manufacturing (secondary) industry
Define De-Industrialisation
De-industrialisation - a process in which the industrial activity in a country or region is removed or reduced because of a major economic or social change
Define Urban Decline
Urban Decline - the deterioration of an urban place
Describe London Docklands before de-industrialisation
- The London docklands was an area where ships unloaded from foreign shores.
- The goods were stored in warehouses, and ships were also repaired.
- In the 1960s and 1970s a new system of transporting goods was invented – containerisation, which meant ships were bigger.
- The London docks were not deep enough to cope with these ships, so the area began to decline!
- The Lea Valley, to the north of the Isle of dogs, was an area of manufacturing and relied on the docklands for transport and supply of goods. This area included the inner-city areas of Stratford, Tottenham. When the docks declined so did this area.
Negative Environmental Consequences of London Docklands Deindustrialisation
- Physical environment of the inner cities declined – poor quality housing (old, poorly designed/maintained), vandalism, dereliction, lack of open space
- Those that remained were the least able/ motivated to make improvements (lack of civic pride) the decline accelerated
This is the ‘negative multiplier effect’
Negative Social Consequences of London Docklands De-industrialisation
- Low educational attainment – due to language difficulties or low levels of motivation
- Poor health – due to low incomes/poor diet, low levels of motivation and physical activity
- ‘Brain Drain’ - Inner urban areas lost the most talented, qualified individuals. These were usually young age groups (20s and 30’s)
Negative Economic Consequences of London Docklands De-industrialisation
- At the time, inner city unemployment rates were 50% higher than rest of the country
- Traditional manufacturing centres such as Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow and Birmingham were worst hit as these were the areas in which industrial decline was greatest
- This decline links to globalisation: lower labour and material costs/improved communications and transport
Reasons for Economic Decline in 1980
- Containerisation – ships were bigger and could no longer dock in the London docks, so jobs lost
The Lea Valley relied on the docks for transport and supply of goods, so jobs were lost - Globalisation - goods made in Lea Valley could be made elsewhere for cheaper due to lower labour and material costs
Figures supporting Economic Decline in London Docklands
When the London Docks closed in 1980, 10,000 people lost their jobs directly
Estimated that another 100,000 lost their jobs indirectly because of the closure of the docks
In some parts of East London, the unemployment rate was as high as 60%
Figures supporting Decline in Population in 1980 (and why)
- Lost 16% of population in 1939-1981 due to suburbanisation (voluntary and forced) and counter-urbanisation
- Lost 20% of population in East London where the London Docks were situated 10 years before 1981
Effects of London Docklands closing in 1980
- Lea Valley (north of the docklands) was most seriously effected
- In the 1970’s it was the UK’s largest manufacturing area. The loss of manufacturing industry is called de-industrialisation and is the main cause of urban decline
