Settlement change - pt. 2 Flashcards
What are the social reasons for urban change?
ageing population - more houses are needed for younger people
increase in divorce means family lives in two houses
people get married later - rose from 24 in 1960 to 30 in 2010
population is expected to rise by 4 million between 2001 and 2021, most of this is in south-east England
What are the economic and political reasons for urban change?
economic:
- mortgage companies offer 100% mortgages, making it easier for young people to buy houses
- increase in demand for one and two bedroom houses has caused a rise in house prices
political:
- government has promised 3 million new houses by 2020 as part of a Sustainable Communities Plan
- certain areas in the UK have been designated as areas for growth, e.g. Ashford in Kent
What are the advantages of urban fringe housing estates?
advantages:
- relatively close to the city centre
- popular for new offices and factories so there is lots of job opportunities
- space for leisure and shopping facilities
disadvantages:
- built on greenfield sites so countryside is lost
- increases urban sprawl
What are the pros and cons of eco-towns?
pros:
- largely car free
- made sustainably, reducing carbon emissions and using recycled materials
- hosing can be allocated to people with lower incomes (30%)
cons:
- increases urban sprawl
- built on greenfield land
- very little provision for employment
How is the inner-city redeveloped?
use brownfield sites
houses can be located in the centre of the city
variety of shops and entertainment available, as well as jobs
the need to build new roads, water and gas links is reduced
issues over personal security, led to an increase in gated communities
How has Bradford dealt with de-industrialisation?
wool/textile industry declined in the 20th century
renewal:
- attracting modern industries like engineering and ICT to the area
- providing new tourist and leisure facilities
redevelopment:
- converting mills into museum, galleries and flats
- demolishing old buildings to make brownfield land for revelopment
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using brownfield sites?
advantages:
- rejuvenate disused areas
- reduces urban sprawl
- services (water, gas) are already in place
- short commuter distance, already in the city
disadvantages:
- may be contaminated with pollutants, expensive to clean
- expensive to demolish old buildings
- surrounding areas may be rundown and difficult to attract investors
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using greenfield sites?
advantages:
- relatively cheap to develop
- quicker to build
- developers have more freedom over layout
- located in healthier areas
disadvantages:
- increases urban sprawl
- wildlife habitats disturbed, may reduce biodiversity
- visual pollution of rural scenery
What are the causes of population growth in Cairo?
lack of jobs in rural areas due to population growth and mechanisation
salaries are lower in rural areas
better facilities, such as shops and schools, in cities
increase in birth rate, lower death rate
What are the negative impacts of population growth in Cairo?
noise pollution - millions of vehicles, above acceptable levels according to the World Health Organisation
air pollution - mainly caused by vehicles, cause repository problems, high lead concentration decreases intelligence and increases tooth decay
water pollution - waterways filled with sewage, 2.5m L of industrial sewage added to Nile daily, 25% of city not connected to the sewage system
land pollution - 60% of waste is not collected, increase disease causing vermin
housing problems - 60% of people live in shanty type dwellings, houses on edge of city are unattractive due to their distance from the city
What are the positive impacts of population growth in Cairo?
Cairo is never short of workers
workers are willing to do menial jobs for low wages
manufacturing and retail has grown
