Urban Issues & Challenges-Case Study: Urban Change in Bristol Flashcards
Bristol is a city …
is a city in the South West of England, close to the mouth of the River Avon.
What is the importance of Bristol?
Bristol is considered one of the ten core cities in the United Kingdom.
Bristol is home to two universities.
Popular attractions in Bristol include the Avonmouth Docks, the Bristol Old Vic Theatre and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Bristol is the transport hub of the South West of England, with an international airport and good rail links to Europe.
Impacts of migration on Bristol
Bristol has a population of 440,500 people with 9% growth since 2000.
International migration accounts for approximately half of this growth.
Most migration to Bristol occurs from Poland, Somalia, India & Jamaica.
Many people and businesses have moved from London to Bristol due to the rising cost of rent as the land is much cheaper in Bristol.
Social opportunities
The increased cultural mix of Bristol’s inhabitants has led to more diverse social gatherings.
St. Paul’s Carnival celebrates the African Caribbean community.
Bristol has two football clubs: Bristol City & Bristol Rovers.
Economic opportunities
Bristol has an unemployment rate that is below the national average.
This is, in part, due to the presence of large technology company offices like Toshiba.
Development areas such as the Cabot Circus have been built, featuring new opportunities for economic growth in the retail and entertainment businesses.
Economic opportunities
Bristol has an integrated transport system.
Three bus routes link Bristol Temple Meads Station with Park and Ride sites.
Environmental opportunities
The local government in Bristol has a policy of ‘urban greening’.
This means they aim to cover at least 30% of the city in trees and green spaces.
90% of Bristolians live within 350 m of a park or waterway.
Filwood
Social and economic challenges created by the growth of Bristol include urban deprivation and social inequality.
Filwood in South Bristol is in the top 10% of most deprived areas in the country.
Filwood has an average of 1300 crimes each year.
Filwood has an average life expectancy of 78 years old, compared to a national average of 81 years old.
Stoke Bishop
By contrast, Stoke Bishop in the north-west of Bristol is considered one of the most affluent areas in the country.
Stoke Bishop has less than 300 crimes each year.
Stoke Bishop has an average life expectancy of 83 years old.
Environmental challenges
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The city of Bristol produces over 0.5 million tonnes of waste each year, with most being sent to landfill.
Many industrial buildings in the Stokes Croft area was abandoned after World War II,
The growth of the population of Bristol has led to building on brownfield sites.
For example, Finzels Reach was once a sugar refinery that has been redeveloped into apartments, shops & offices
Urban sprawl
As Bristol has grown, local inhabitants are increasingly worried about urban sprawl.
Urban sprawl is when a city spreads into the rural-urban fringe surrounding it.
New houses are continuing to be built on greenfield sites north of Bristol:
8000 homes were built in Bradley Stoke.
3000 homes have been built in Harry Stoke.
Brownfield sites
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Building on brownfield sites runs the risk of unearthing contamination from industrial waste.
Greenfield sites
Building on greenfield sites leads to the loss of wildlife habitats and areas of natural beauty.
