P2 Section A: URBAN ISSUES AND CHALLENGES - BIRMINGHAM

Question 1

BIRMINGHAM: NATIONAL IMPORTANCE

Answer 1

• Growing population: 1.4 million
• International airport: 12 mil visitors in 2017
• Education: over 5 unis (60k students)
• Tourism: £35 billion to economy (35 million visitors to Bullring)

Question 2

BIRMINGHAM: SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Answer 2

• Most Michelin star restaurants outside of London
• Host Commonwealth Games: £750 million to economy
• Integrated transport system: redevelopment of area created 14k jobs, 2000 city center homes
  –> £1.3 billion in a year

Question 3

BIRMINGHAM: ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Answer 3

• Largest no. of businesses + start-ups offering jobs, retail, leisure and tech opportunities
• Home to 31 000 companies
• Provides space for 300 organisations based in the UK who have operations outside the UK

Question 4

BIRMINGHAM: ENVIRONMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES

Answer 4

• One of the greenest cities in Europe
• 500 parks and open spaces (Botanical Gardens + Eastside Park)
• 28km of cycle routes
• Clean Air Zone started in 2021
• Urban greening: green terraces at library

Question 5

BIRMINGHAM: URBAN CHALLENGES

Answer 5

• Birmingham holds 4/5 constituencies for highest rates of unemployment
• Unemployment around 9-12%
• 3rd most deprived city in 2015
• Highest share of people with no qualifications of any UK cities
• Life expectancy decreases closer to center
• Education worse inner city (e.g. Sparkbrook) where young leave with no grades
• Increased dereliction in inner cities (e.g. Digbeth)
• Growth of commuter settlements on edges- more traffic (strain transport network)

Question 6

BIRMINGHAM: ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

Answer 6

• Only 30% waste recycled in 2015
• Brownfield site: land decayed –> difficult finding ideal site –> urban sprawl
• 20 000 new homes built on greenbelt Sutton Coldfield (due to urban sprawl)