Urban Change in the UK Flashcards
Where do people live in the UK?
The UK’s population is unevenly distributed, 82% live in urban areas. A quarter of those urban dwellers live in London and in the south-east of England. Many highland areas are sparsely populated due to the harsh weather conditions and isolation.
Reasons for the current distribution in the UK
During the industrial revolution, major cities grew near raw materials such as coal, e.g. Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff, Swansea and Birmingham.
Ports such as London, Liverpool and Bristol grew because the UK is and was an important trading nation.
Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff grew because they are the capitals.
Birmingham’s location is in the centre of the country was a factor in its growth as a centre of industrial innovation.
As the capital of the UK, London developed because of its political and administrative functions. It is now a global city and a financial centre.
How might the current distribution change?
How might this distribution change?
There has been a general drift towards the south-east and London – one of the world’s financial, business and cultural centres.
Immigrants generally settle in larger cities where there are more job opportunities.
There has been a recent growth in retiring people which chose to move to more rural areas for their retirement.
Why is Bristol an important major UK city
Education – two universities, attracts international students.
Industry – the largest concentration of silicon chip manufacture outside California, global industries like aerospace and media, inward investment from abroad.
Religion – a mix, including mosques and synagogues; Christianity is represented by two cathedrals, one Anglican one catholic.
Culture and entertainment – several theatres and music venues, including the famous Bristol old Vic theatre. Home to Aardman, the animators who created Wallace and Gromit.
Tourism – the UK’s eighth most popular city for visitors.
Transport – good road and rail links, ferry services to Europe, two major docks and Bristol airport links to Europe and the US.
Advantages of Bristol’s migrant population growth
Opportunities:
A hard-working workforce
Enriching the city’s cultural life
Mainly young migrants help balance the aging population.
Disdvantages of Bristol’s migrant population growth
Challenges:
Housing provision has not kept up with the population growth – housing is expensive.
Teaching children who don’t have English as a first language
Integration into the larger community
What urban change is there in Bristol
Rapidly growing population More ethnically diverse population Under 16’s > pensioners More accessible due to network of motorways, rail and air Over 2mil people live within 50km away 70min train journey to London
Social opportunities
Entertainment – there are nightclubs, bars and a vibrant underground music scene. There are concert venues, and theatres. Migrants contribute to the music, art, literature and food.
Sport – sports teams are developing their stadium to provide a range of leisure and conference facilities. This often involves new stadium on the outskirts of the city.
Shopping – Bristol has seen may major changes. The retail park at cribs causeway affected the outdated Broad mead shopping development in the city centre. As a result, Cabot circus was developed.
Examples of Bristol’s social opportunities
Cabot circus
Opened in 2008 at a cost of £500 million.
Shops and leisure facilities take up 2/3 of the floor space
There are also offices, a cinema, a hotel and 250 apartments
Bristol’s harbour side
Conversion of workshops and warehouses into bars, nightclubs and cultural venues
Includes an art gallery, museum and the At-Bristol science centre
The harbour side festival attracts around 300 000 spectators
How has industry changed in Bristol?
The closure of Bristol port meant that its industry changed. Since then, major developments have been in tertiary (services) and quaternary (high-tech) sectors. This creates employment.
Why have high tech businesses been attracted to Bristol
A government grant of £100 million to become a super-connected city with broadband download speeds of at least 80 Mbps.
Close links with the city council and universities.
A large educated and skilled workforce
Advanced research at the uni
Different industries working collaboratively in research and development.
Industries in Bristol: Defence procurement agency
employs over 10 000 people
supplies the army, air force and navy with everything from boots to aircraft carriers.
Established on a greenfield site
Created a demand for housing which contributed to the city’s urban sprawl.
Industries in Bristol: The aerospace industry
Fourteen of the fifteen main global aircraft companies are found in the Bristol region including rolls Royce, airbus, and GKN aerospace.
Supply chains have grown up in the region to supply these hi-tech companies.
Industries in Bristol: Aardman Animations
Became well known for using stop motion clay animation techniques
Entered the computer animation market
Won an Oscar and many other awards
What plans are there to improve the environment opportunities in Bristol?
In 2015 Bristol become the first UK city to be awarded the status of European green capital. It also plans to increase the number of jobs in the low-carbon industries.
Other plans include
Improve energy efficiency – reduce energy use by 30% and carbon dioxide emissions by 40% be 2020.
Increase the use of renewable energy from 2% (2012)
Reduce water pollution by improved monitoring and maintenance
Establish and air quality management plan to monitor air pollution
Increase the use of brownfield sites for new businesses and housing.
Define An Integrated transport system
an ITS connects different methods of transport. It encourages people to switch to using public transport.
The rapid transit network – three bus routes linking the railway station to park and rode sites.
Electrification of the railway line to London – greener and more reliable journeys.
Aims to double the number of cyclists by 2020.
Define Urban greening
this is the process of increasing and preserving open space in urban areas.
More than a third of Bristol is open space
There are eight nature reserves and 300 parks in the city.
Queen square was once a dual carriageway, but is now an open space with cycle routes.
Environmental challenges in Bristol
Due to the changes in Bristol many environmental challenges have arisen. For example, may industrial buildings that are no longer used have become derelict and the demand for new housing has led to urban sprawl which means that new housing developments in rural areas on the edge of the city.
Environmental Challenges in Bristol: Case Study
Stokes croft
It is an inner-city area with housing once built for industrial workers.
The housing has now become derelict
There were problems with squatters, riots and antisocial behaviour.
o Bristol city council obtained lottery grants to help improve the area.
o Activists and artist want to revitalise the area with community action and public art, including graffiti.
Effect of Urban Sprawl in Bristol
– Bristol needs new housing because of a rapidly growing population and the demolition of older slum dwellings. Urban sprawl has extended, particularly to the north-west of the city. The new town of Bradley stoke has extended the city to the north.
Bristol is developing brownfield sites such as the Harbour side.
Between 2006 and 2013 only 6% of housing developments were on greenfield.
How is Bristol trying to create a clean environment?
The amount of waste produced per head in Bristol is 23% lower than the UK average but Bristol produces half a million tonnes of waste per year. It is among the worst cities in the country in terms of food waste.
Bristol’s population has grown by 9% since 2000 but the amount of household waste has reduced by 18%. This has been achieved by:
Making technological improvements in recycling.
Introducing specialised kerbside collections and facilities for recycling different kinds of household waste.
Doing more to teach children about recycling.
Environment Problems: Atmospheric Pollution
Vehicle emissions are the main cause
An estimated 200 people die prematurely each year in Bristol as a result of air pollution.
Actions to improve the air quality include:
The Frome gateway, a walking and cycling route to the city centre
A smartphone app with info about public transport services, connections and delays.
Bristol - Social Inequality Case Study description
Filwood:
more than a third of people living in Filwood and over half of the children were in very low-income households.
Stoke Bishop:
A very affluent suburb to the north west of the city, has an area which houses many millionaires.
Bristol - Social Inequality: Housing
Filwood
Many council houses built in the 1930/40’s to replace the slums and war damage, poorly insulated
Nearly 6% of houses are overcrowded
New, modern apartments are being built in Filwood park
Stoke Bishop:
Over 80% of housing is owned
Less than 2% of houses are overcrowded
Adequate parking is often a problem
Bristol - Social Inequality: Education
Filwood:
35% of pupils receive free school meals
In 2013 only 36% of students got top grades in GCSE, including English and Maths
Stoke Bishop:
14% of pupils receive free school meals
94% of students got the highest grades in five or more GCSE’s
Nearly half of the population have a degree or equivalent
Bristol - Social Inequality: Health
Filwood:
Life expectancy is about three years below the average in Bristol
Lowest participation in active sport and creative activities in the cities
Poor access to shops selling healthy foods.
Stoke Bishop:
Life expectancy is about 4 years above city average
Over 90% of population consider themselves to be in good health
Over half of population play sport at least once a week
Bristol - Social Inequality: Employment
Filwood:
Over a third of people aged 16-24 are unemployed
Over a quarter of children live in a low-income family
Stoke Bishop:
Only 2% of the population is unemployed
Fewer than 3% of the children live in poverty.
Effect of the green belt in Bristol
The green belt was set up to stop the merging of Bristol and bath and to prevent urban sprawl on the rural-urban fringe.
Housing development on greenfield land in Bristol
A new development of 1200 homes has been built on land at Harry Stoke with 2000 more planned to be completed by 2017. Local people objected, they were concerned about traffic congestion, noise and poor air quality, loss of animal habitats and the effect on the local flood risk.
Housing development on brownfield land in Bristol
Bristol Harbour side – when Bristol’s port closed down, so did several industries around the docks. Empty industrial buildings were regenerated for housing and cultural facilities.
A very run-down area of the city has been redeveloped
People still live in the centre
Not everyone is happy about the architecture
Renovation has been costly so the flats are expensive
Why should run-down urban areas be regenerated?
Existing buildings can be put to a range of uses on any one site
The land is often disused or in a state of dereliction
The site has already been developed so it reduces urban sprawl
Using unsightly areas for building development improves the urban environment
Sites are in urban areas, so building there may reduce are use
Temple Quarter Regeneration: Overview
The Temple quarter needed regeneration as the area was very run down and it gave a bad impression to visitors driving in from the south or south-east, or arriving at the station.
What are the separate areas of the Temple Quarter?
Avon riverside – old industrial buildings used for light industries. Green spaces were created by demolishing a former diesel depot
Temple Meads City Gateway – dominated by Temple Meads railway station. Cut off from the rest of the area by the dual carriageway built in the 1970’s
Silverthorne lane – the remains of the Bristol ironworks and the city’s gasworks. Access is difficult because of historic railway arches
Temple quay – a former industrial area, including rope works, timber yards and potteries.
What general regeneration projects have taken in place in Temple Quarter?
A new bridge across the River Avon
Glass Wharf - new office development
Paintworks - new mixed use development
Temple studios - new technical and digital enterprises
Engine Shed - for high tech and creative businesses
The target is to create 17 000 new jobs by 2037, focusing on several key projects.
How has the access from in and around Bristol improved?
Electrification will shorten the rail journey to London
Improvements to Temple meads station to encourage people to travel by train
Improved road layout with links to the rapid transit network and the Bristol-bath cycle path
Opportunites that have come due to the Temple Quarter Regeneration
Enterprise zone status – they encourage economic growth and creates jobs. They offer a range of incentives to businesses to move to the area, including business rate relief, low rents and easier planning procedures.
