Spaces/Places Casestudy: Birmingham structural economic change Flashcards
1
Q
Where is Birmingham
A
In the heart of the West Midlands cornubation
2
Q
Currently, is Birmingham the 3rd most populated city in the UK?
A
Yes
3
Q
What was the purpose of Birmingham up to the late 1960s
A
- Birmingham had a major role in the industrial sector.
- Engineering industries made up a large composition of the economy, such as Austin car plant and Dunlop tyre company - employing 10,000 in the 1950s.
4
Q
Up until the 1950s what was Birmingham’s populations demographic?
A
- Overwhelmingly white in ethnic origin.
- Employment was dominated by males.
- 60% had skilled jobs such as lathe operators and precision engineers.
5
Q
How was the inner city of Birmingham deprived before rebranding?
A
- The inner city areas comprised of poor-quality housing at high density such as in Aston and Handsworth.
- Decades of industrial activity had left land sites, canals and rivers with high levels of pollution.
- Air pollution reached high levels as controls on emissions were almost non-existent.
6
Q
What was the significance of the post-war industrial decline in Birmingham?
A
- Birmingham was prosperous up till the 1960s with unemployment figures below 1%.
- Between 1970 and 1983, earnings fell from being the highest in the UK to almost the lowest of any region.
- In 1982 unemployment rose to 19.4%
7
Q
What factors led to Birmingham becoming deindustrialized?
A
- The interaction of several players (IMPORTANCE OF PLAYERS)
- Birmingham suffered from the global recession in the 1970s, with a leading issue of the Arab-Israeli war. OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) weaponized oil supplies.
- Birmingham’s traditional industries were damaged by oil prices increasing ten-fold.
- These industries were already threatened by overseas TNCs based in countries with lower production costs.
8
Q
What was the role of TNC players and the government in Birmingham becoming deindustrialized?
A
- Foreign TNCs, in particular Japanese car manufacturers, began to dominate the British car market as products were seen as more reliable and better value for money
- Some overseas car manufacturers established factories in the UK, however none were located in the West-Midlands.
- The player of the Central government was a key player in this economic change as they strongly influenced the locations of these manufacturers with grants.
- The government had aims to attract investment in regions with greater economic problems than Birmingham
9
Q
How did strikes contribute to Birmingham’s industrial decline?
A
- In the 1970s, strikes were frequent so both management and the unions were players involved in decline affecting industry.
- Birmingham became less attractive to potential investors - who would be another group of influential players bringing about change.
10
Q
How has the ethnic demography changed in Birmingham?
A
- From the 1950s onward, there was significant international in-migration in inner city areas.
- The majority of immigrants were from the Caribbean, South Asia and the Far East.
- Immigrants tended to cluster in areas of cheap housing that had good employment access.
- The growing service sector, stimulated by deindustrialization required low-skilled jobs such as office cleaners, hospital porters and taxi-drivers.
- Birmingham, due to demographic change, became a cosmopolitan city reflected in the religious landscape of mosques and temples being built.
- Different financial services emerged, such as financial services (banks based in home countries) that added to the city’s increasingly diverse functions.
11
Q
What is Birmingham’s age demographic?
A
- The city has a relatively youthful population compared to England.
- 38% are 24 years old or younger, compared to 31% for the whole of England
- Birmingham’s elderly (65+) account for 13%, compared to over 16%
12
Q
What is recent regeneration aiming to do to Birmingham?
A
- Recent regeneration, involving a variety of players, is actively trying to reposition Birmingham as a modern, forward-looking city with key roles to play at local, regional, national and international scales.
13
Q
List general players involved in Birmingham’s regeneration
A
- Role of government
- Role of planning and flagship developments
- The role of transport
- Universities
14
Q
What has been the role of the national government in Birmingham’s regeneration?
A
- National government schemes have been utilized such as the City Challenge and Single Regeneration Budget, designed to help places access funding for redevelopment.
15
Q
What has been the role of the local government in Birmingham’s regeneration?
A
- The local government plays a vital role in promoting change
- The local government actively promoted the city region, attracting inward investment to bring about the construction of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and the expansion of adjoining Birmingham International Airport.
- These two developments attract the international conference and exhibition market which brings significant money into the region.
- The improved international accessibility from expanding Birmingham International Airport is another factor in attracting investment.
16
Q
What has been the role of the city council in Birmingham’s regeneration?
A
- The City council has a European and International Affairs team, seeking to promote Birmingham beyond the UK and gain funding.
- From 2014-2020, £235 million was secured from the EU Social Investment Fund.
- Further EU funding from the **European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) has gone into projects such as improving insulation in run-down social housing.
- This is now limited by Brexit, however, they now consider new sources of funding such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and small schemes such as the Central regional fund.
17
Q
In short, what is the intended role of planning and flagship developments in Birmingham?
A
- To bring about physical change in hope to catalyze socio-economic changes.
18
Q
What is an example of a flagship development in Birmingham?
A
- The International Convention Centre.
- AND the Symphony Hall
- These were both funded, and contributed to by the EU player funding.
19
Q
How do the flagship projects of the International Convention Centre (Barclaycard center) and the Symphony Hall bring about economic change?
A
- The Symphony Hall, opened in 1991, is home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, being an example of a cultural player helping to bring about economic change.
- The International Convention Centre (renamed the Barclaycard Centre) attracts conferences internationally as well as nationally.
20
Q
How do flagship projects stimulate the multiplier effect?
A
- Flagship developments attract visitors, meaning that hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities benefit from spending.
- For example, the National Indoor Arena attracts large sporting events such as the 2003 World Indoor Athletics Championship and the 2010 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships.
21
Q
How do universities bring about economic change in Birmingham?
A
- The city’s universities have a combined student population of around 50,000.
- Demographically, this contributes to the cities relatively youthful profile.
- Economically, academic institutions bring significant wealth to areas, this is due to employing people who have income to spend.
- This operates in addition to the students spending themselves, as they provide a market for a host of goods and services.
22
Q
How has the development of the Bullring shopping center supported structural economic change in Birmingham?
A
- There is improved service provision
- The Bullring was redeveloped in the 1960s, being Europe’s first major indoors shopping center.
- It has been refurbished alongside other flagship buildings, such as the Selfridges department store with it’s radical design. This contributes to the city’s status as one of the countries leading retail centers.
- The bullring has created almost full-time 4500 jobs, with 85% of this being occupied by local people, and 50% employing those under 25.
- The bullring generates wage-payments of £88 million per annum, contributing to the multiplier effect in the local area from locals disposable income.
23
Q
As part of regeneration of Birmingham, how has the environment been upgraded?
A
- The city centers streets have been pedestrianized, and provided with high-quality street furniture and trees.
- The city’s once polluted canals and surroundings have been included in revitalization, both environmentally and economically.
- The key player in canal revitalization is The Canal and River Trust, which is a charity established in 2012 to oversee the canal system.
- Other players such as the local government and the private sector have contributed to the regeneration of locations such as the Gas Street Basin and Brindley Place.
24
Q
What is the role of transport in regenerating Birmingham?
A
- Birmingham’s main railway station, New Street, has been transformed by a £700 million investment.
- This New Street transformation involves players such as Network Rail, private developers and retailers such as John Lewis creating an area called Grand Central
- In Grand Central, shops, cafes, restaurants and offices have created 1000 jobs.
- Another role of transport is the transport legacy of the West Midlands’ motorway network. Birmingham acts as the hub of this national network.
- The M6 links to the M1, and the M5 and M40 are major spokes - while the M42 provides a ring road from the SW to the SE of the city. These have been developed by the National government, though private investment was responsible for the toll motorway that prevents congestion on the M6 (main motorway).
25
Q
What now undermines the role of transport in Birmingham?
A
- The role of transport would have been significant if the HS2 was still going ahead.
- The HS2 was the national governments flagship transport development that would have direct impacts on Birmingham. This would have connected Birmingham to London and other metropolitan areas to bring socio-economic change to Birmingham.
- It would’ve involved a wide range of players: The National and regional government, TNCs involved in engineering, banks, local community groups and NGOs such as the National Trust.
- It would’ve stimulated economic growth and make Birmingham, 50 mins from London by the HS2, a more attractive proposition for investment.
