Section A- Urban issues and challenges- UK Flashcards
Where are most major cities distributed
In central areas of UK such as Birmingham, London and Liverpool- they all have a large population density
What problems can an uneven spread of the population cause?
Jobs, opportunities and services being concentrated in one area. Rural areas wont have them as easily accessible. Better education by living near cities with better opportunities alongside it. Rural economy will lose people for their jobs.
Name chosen case study city
Birmingham
Describe the location of Birmingham
The West Midlands region in England at 150-300m above sea level
Describe importance of Birmingham in the UK and the wider
world
Many motorways run through Birmingham, increasing access to the city and its centre. For example, the M6 is found North of the city and M5 junction linking Midlands and South West. Birmingham’s international airport is located 8 miles from the city centre.,
How many visitors does Birmingham have a year and what is its population
37.2 million visitors and a growing population of 1.1 million
Describe the importance of Birmingham
First steam engine invented
Drawing international investment away from London
£200 million investment into new HSBC head quarters in Centenary square.
Main cause of immigration between 1950’s and 1990’s
Post war common-wealth immigration after ww2
Main cause of modern day immigration in the city
Nationalities such as those from the middle east who are currently experiencing conflict seeking asylum in Birmingham.
Describe distribution of ethnic groups in Birmingham
Most white ethnic groups are found on the outskirts- yardley whereas non white ethnic groups found in the centre
Impact on migration on growth and character on the city
Significantly increased population
Provides cultural experiences
Business opportunities such as the ‘balti triangle’
Positives and negatives on ethnicity distrubution
Safe surrounded by similar people, no language barrier, racial diversity and place of worship.
Friction between different groups, changes British society, more competition, not enough space.
Socially and economically how has urban change created opportunities
Cultural mix, recreation and entertainment, employment, integrated transport systems due to population increase.
Environmentally how has urban change created opportunities
Urban greening
Demolish brown sites and turn them into open parks ( birminghams east side)
Green roofs and green walls and maintain existing green spaces and introduce micro scale ecosystems
example of recreation and entertainment opportunities
Symphony hall- students, attract more people to uni and jobs
Library- education, book and computer access
How has the integrated transport system helped Birmingham
People can get to work easier and quicker, provide jobs, cheaper travel expense, more people using public transport
Explain the integrated transport system in birmingham
Tram links Birmingham to outlying areas such as west bromich- reduces congestion and traffic into city centre and reduces co2 emissions
3 major stations, lowers need for car parking, recently developed new street= more appealing
2 ring roads, encouraged to use middle ring road which is further away from centre
How has pedestrianisation improved birmingham
Main shopping area around bullring and new street is pedestrianized which allows for safer shopping, reduces urban traffic level in inner city.i
Socially and economically how has urban change created challenges
Urban deprivation, inequalities in housing, education, health and employment
Environmentally how has urban change created challenges
Dereliction, building on brownfield and greenfield sites, waste disposal
How can the social and economic issues lead to urban decline following deindustrialisation
unemployment causes people to become resigned or depressed about their situation which lowers their aspirations which causes weaker achievements at school = less skilled work force.
Lack of education= unemployment which causes factories and businesses to relocate or shut down which leads to derelict buildings which lowers living conditions and encourages crime.
How has Birmingham tried to overcome its derelict sites issue
Business opportunity to refurbish them into housing or offices
Define a brown field site
A previously developed piece of land now available for re-development
Define a green field site
An undeveloped piece of land with proposed first time development
Define urban sprawl
The spread of city buildings and houses into an area that use to be countryside
How has urban sprawl brought inequality into the city
More expensive housing would have been built on outskirts of bimingham, less desirable and poorer housing in the centre- more crime and unsafe living conditions= social and economic inequality
Whats the impact on urban sprawl on rural urban fringe and commuter settlements
decreases size of green belt land area
easier access to city centre- (train lines)
local economic wealth
more expensive housing
higher air pollution due to heaver traffic from easier access to city
loss of agricultural capacity
Why might commuter settlements be more attractive to live in than the city
eg- Barnt Green (10 miles from city centre) is nearby M5 and M42 motorways, therefore has easy access to the city for those who work there. Smaller, safer, community feel with more expensive housing of 300K+ suggest people have to pay to live in a nice area.
What is green belt
Land where urban development is not allowed, to prevent relentless urban sprawl
Benefits of green belt
more permeable surfaces, visual aspect, recreational- leisure, encourage growth of wildlife, provides oxygen near industrial area- decreases global warming
Why might green belt no longer be effective at stopping urban sprawl
growth rate is 5x housing rate therefore the need to use green belt land to have an area to build housing on is becoming a demand
What are the 3 features of sustainable living
Water and energy conservation
Waste recycling
Creating green space
Why is Londons current approach to waste management not sustainable
Landfill sites and large incinerators on outskirts of London
85,000 tonnes of rubbish collected everyday
160 miles of land filled with rubbish
Where in London is sustainable
East village- athletes village for 2012 Olympics
Rainwater is used and filtered= water use is 50% less
Energy use is 30% less, combined heat and power system
Give an example of a sustainable urban city
Curitiba- South Eastern Brazil
What makes Curitiba so sustainable
CREATING GREEN SPACE
Creating and retaining greenspace beside rivers- floodplain, when river iguazu floods= boating lakes
Residents has planted 1.5 million trees
How is COHAB public housing sysem sustainable
provides 50,000 homes for urban poor
solar panels
rainwater harvesting systems
rainfall is taken via gutters to underground storage facilities for flushing
What makes Curitiba so sustainable
WATER, ENERGY CONSERVATION AND SOCIAL ASPECTS
Urban growth is restricted to along key transport routes
Rapid transit system- 80% of travelers use it,car use is 25% less than national average
COHAB public housing programme
What males Curitiba so sustainable
WASTE RECYCLING
A green exchange programme, urban poor bring their waste to neighborhood centres. They can exchange their waste for bus tickets and food
Urban areas are kept clean and 70% of all rubbish is recycled
How does the BRT system work so well in Curitiba
One road in and one road out of city= less traffic
Reduces use of cars
Glass boarding tubes to buy tickets to make it rapid
2 million passengers a day
Triple circulated
pays for itself and cheap ticket- same fare wherever
joins other districts to satisfy everyones needs
Give example of urban regeneration project in Birmingham
Grand central
Why did grand central need regeneration
Cost £600 million
List main features of the project
Incorporates new street train station as well as the new grand central shopping area
good for commuters
2nd largest john lewis store
