UK Urbanisation Flashcards
What is the importance of London in the UK and world?
London is the largest and wealthiest city in the UK, with significantly higher wages (and house prices) available compared to the rest of the country. It is a world city acting as one of the most important financial centres globally.
What are the impacts of migration on London’s growth and character?
Immigration has massively increased the cultural diversity within London, with many areas becoming hubs for international communities. Many migrants are also young, meaning that they contribute to higher levels of natural increase in the city.
Give and explain 3 socio-economic opportunities caused by urban change.
Recreation and entertainment:
As most people leaving London are older and most arriving are younger, the city now offers several vibrant areas for entertainment. This attracts people to the area and creates job opportunities.
Employment:
London used to be used as a port, with many working in the docks in East London, or in secondary industries surrounding it. As the docks declined, more tertiary jobs (especially within the new Canary Wharf development) emerged, with London now attracting skilled workers and contributing 23% of the uk’s GDP
Integrated Transport:
London’s transport system is convenient to use since it is integrated, with Oyster cards offering one payment method which works across the network. Interchanges between different modes of public transport such as trains, buses and the tube are seamless. This reduces traffic and air pollution.
London’s latest investment in this transport infrastructure is the Elizabeth Line.
Give and explain an environmental benefit of urban change.
Urban greening is prevalent in London, with Stratford’s Olympic park being the latest of many major parks and green spaces in the city. Open space is proven to improve people’s physical and mental health. When combined with green roofs, trees and hedges elsewhere they also improve air quality.
What inequalities exist in London
London has both affluent (e.g Kensington and Chelsea) and deprived (e.g Tower Hamlets) areas. People in poorer areas tend to have worse housing, education and access to healthcare than in richer ones. They also tend to have lower life expectancies since they have less income to spend on things like healthy food and gym memberships.
Give the main cause of, and 3 solutions to air pollution
The main cause of air pollution is London’s dense road network, which is frequently congested. Since most roads lead towards the centre, and many commuters are heading for this small area, traffic problems are more severe in the inner city.
Solutions include low emission zones and congestion charging; new public transport, such as the Elizabeth line, and electric buses and taxis; and improved cycle infrastructure
Give the amount of waste produced annually in London, 2 causes of waste production, and 3 management strategies
2 million tonnes of waste are produced per year in London. This is increasing due to the rise of consumerism, as people adopt more convenient but more wasteful lifestyles. Fast fashion and fast food packaging have contributed to this a lot. The increasing population of London in general means more waste will be produced.
Managements strategies include the obvious: recycling is becoming more prevalent (although rates vary by borough) and food waste is often composted. While landfill is still the main way of dealing with general waste, space for it is running out. Incineration offers an alternative which produces energy, although it also causes air pollution
Give the pros and cons of building on greenfield (1 pro, 2 cons) and brownfield sites
Greenfield:
+ Land is cheap and doesn’t require much preparation (demolition and/or decontamination) before use
– Often badly-connected to public transport
– Irreversible loss of farmland and habitats
Brownfield:
+ Reduces urban sprawl
+ Can improve existing urban areas
+ Better-connected with existing public transport
– Land is often more expensive and requires demolition or existing buildings and/or decontamination of industrial pollution
Give 3 pros and 3 cons of urban sprawl
Pros:
+ Land is cheaper for developers
+ Better access to motorways
+ Pleasant semi-rural area in which to live
Cons:
– Air pollution from increased car use
– Loss of habitats and farmland
– Developments may look out-of-character compared with surrounding rural area
Why did Stratford need regeneration?
Stratford used to be an industrial area. As the docks closed, this industry declined sharply, causing urban decline and high unemployment levels.
The industry left an area with high levels of pollution and visible dereliction.
Name and describe 4 aspects of sustainable urban living which have been implemented in Stratford’s regeneration
Transportation:
Public transport is very accessible with high frequency bus stops and a major railway station nearby. Walking and cycling infrastructure is very good, with limited onsite parking acting as a deterrent to drivers
Water collection:
The roofs of almost all buildings have rainwater collection systems which can then be used for grey water. This reduces water use compared to a typical urban area by 50%
Energy production and use:
Stratford uses carbon-neutral biomass-based energy. Its centralised heating system negates the need for boilers. Overall compared to a typical urban area Stratford uses 30% less energy
Green space:
As well as the obvious benefits of the Olympic park, wider urban greening is in use with extensive installations of green roofs and small treen ares integrated into the streets.
Give the main disadvantages of Stratford’s regeneration
The regeneration cost £10 billion and caused house prices in the area to skyrocket. This ‘priced out’ many locals who previously lived in the area, displacing them as they could no longer afford accommodation. In many cases this divided entire communities.
Most jobs directly created were in the retail sector, which is typically lower-skilled and pays less.
