Features of UK Cities and Urban and Rural Change

Features of UK Cities and Urban and Rural Change

1. Definitions

   • Urbanisation= An increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas compared to rural areas
     • Suburbanisation= Expansion of human populations away from central urban areas into the outskiurts of cities, and people are usually dependent on commuting here
       • Urban= An urban area is abuilt-up area such as a town or a city
         • Rural= An area in the countryside
           • Brownfield sites= Sites that have previously been built upon, ususally for industrial uses
             • Greenfield site= Areas of land, usually agricultural or rural land, which are being considered for urabn development
               • Counter-urbanisation= When lrage proportions of people move away from urban areas into rural areas or the countryside
                 • Re-urbanisation= Usually the government's initiative to counter the problem of inner city decline (gentrification)
                   • Infill= Use of land within a built-up area for further construction
                     • Standard of living= A measure of a person's income as well as their jobs/qualifications
                       • Deprivation= Measures standard of living as well as the conditions of the local environment and community safety

2. Cardiff

   • Has a population of 350,000
     • Industrialisation happened between 1850 and 1920 so there were more docks and ports and more terraced houses were built for workers in the inner city
       • Suburbansiation happened between 1930 and the 1980s due to an increase in car ownership, causing a suburban sprawl
         • In 1970 Bute East Dock closed down
           • Between the 1980s and today new housing was built on brownfiedl sites and caused re-urbanisation
   • Reasons and Impacts of Urban and Rural Change
     • Rural
       • There are not enough jobs in the local area
         • Jobs are not highly skilled in rural areas so people with a lot of skills struggle to find jobs here
           • Public transport is irregular and unreliable
     • Urban
       • More people are moving away so shops in urban areas close down so there is a decrease in the number of facilities in town, causing counterurbanisation
         • The decreasing population of towns has caused a negative multiplier effect+ led to social decline
           • Rise of car ownership means that people can easily commute to work so they live in commuter settlements

3. Commuter settlements

   • Made up of a community of people living in rural areas who travel to work normally in urban areas
     • Case study: Llantwit Major
       • Available housing- More barns are being converted in modern, availabkle and desirable housing. Expensive, moderna and planned estates built to cater to new residents
         • Services and facilities- Llantwit Major has many amenities (2 supermarkets, a doctor's surgery, schools), which is convenient for residents
           • Accessibility- It is only located 40 minutes from Cardiff so there is a short travel distance for commuters
             • Thus, more people have moved to Llantwit Major and it has become a commuter settlement
   • Changes to Commuting
     • There has been a rise in commuting
       • House prices in rural areas are cheaper compared to urban areas so people are more willing to live in rural areas and commute
         • The availability of good 3G and 4G signals and free wifi in public transport has meant that people can use tech on transport services for work or entertainment, increasing their productivity

4. Urban land use models

   • The Burgess Model
     • Land is of the highest value in the centre of a city
       • The CBD is at the centre and has the most expensive land. It contains many commercial centres, businesses and malls. This is the financial centre
         • The inner city has mainly terraced, low-value houses and is where industrial workers used to live. Unemployment and crime is rife here
           • The inner suburbs contains mainly semi-detached houses and have gardens. Many commuters love here and there are facilities such as supermarkets.
             • The outer suburbs is found at the edge of the urban area and is where town meets country. It contains land such as golf courses, business parks and residential areas. The houses are large, detached and spacious with large gardens
               • Limitations of the Burgess Model
                 • The model is quite old and may not apply to all cities
                   • It does not take into account mass car ownership or commuter settlements
                     • Many inner cities have been regenerated and have had improved environments
   • The Hoyt Model
     • Contains sectors of land in wedges
       • Takes physical features into account
         • Takes motorways and railways into account due to expanding residential areas and industry

5. Spheres of Influence

   • Case Study- The Millennium Stadium
     • Positive
       • Provides jobs and opportunities to the locals, especially the youth
         • Attracts tourists, who purchase goods from local businesses and hence boost the local economy
           • Provided facilities and entertainment for locals to enjoy
     • Negative
       • Locals are exposed to high levels of noise pollution
         • There could be an increase in crime and fights, especially during the night at pubs
           • An increase in litter and pollution due to more tourists
   • Factors affecting the spheres of influence
     • Accessibility- A shop that has better links to the railways and motorway means that people would travel to the shop from a greater distance
       • Competition- Having more competition from other shops decreases a sphere of influence as it means that people have more options to shop from and are less likely to purchase products from your shop
         • Size of settlement- A larger shop is likely to have more products available so more customers would be attracted to the shop and would purchase more goods, increasing the range of the shop

6. Multiculturalism in Cardiff

   • Benfits
     • More businesses are set up so more shopping choices for the locals
       • Immigrants take up the less desirable jobs that the locals don't want
         • Immigrants pay taxes, which improves the economy
   • Somali migrants in Cardiff
     • There are now 10,000 Somalis in Cardiff
       • Many moved between 1800 and the 1930s to find work as sailors in Butetown
         • There are many mosques and halal butchers set up in areas with concentrated migrants

7. Sustainable Development

   • Sustainability- Meeting the needs of current generations without compromising the future generations
   • Case Study- BedZED
     • This is the UK's first sustainable community and is its largest eco community
       • All BedZED homes used 90% less energy for heating
         • Renewable materials are used to build homes eg timber from rainforests
           • There are 40 electric car charge points
             • Most residents cycle to work
               • There is a sense of community and familiarity in the community (most people know at least 20 neighbours)
                 • Sedum roofs are used with plants to increase biodiversity+ to naturally filter the water
     • Cons
       • The project was expensive
         • The heating unit failed so it had to be reconstrcuted

8. Changing land uses

   • There is an increased demand for housing +deindustrialisation took place in cities
   • Reasons
     • Rise in divorce rates means that families live in two dwellings instead of one
       • The ageing population means that more houses are needed for the younger generation
         • Mortgage companies have offered 100% loans, making it easier for younger people to buy homes
   • Rural Housing Challenges
     • The Lake District (see retail and leisure)
       • Very few council homes available- the poorest won't have any residential areas to live in, driving the poorest away from rural areas
         • Increased cost of living- Less people can afford to buy houses and will be driven put so the rural social environment can decline
           • More people buying second homes- more empty houses would be present+ more houses would be taken up, causing a lack of housing and villages can lose their distinct characteristics

9. Brownfield site case study- Ipswitch

   • Why it was redeveloped
     • Increasing population so higher demand for housing
       • It was derelict due to industrial decline so it makes it safer+ more visually appealing
   • Pros
     • People live closer to work so reduced transport so better for environment
       • Habitats are not destroyed so better for environment
         • Ipswitch waterfront increased the number of buildings+ residential areas so decline in crime and increase in visual appeal
   • Cons
     • Lots of flood defences had to be built, costing £53 million
       • Local people unhappy due to traffic+ noise pollution
         • Historic sites had to be protected, costing £1.2 million per hectare
   • Views
     • For
       • Green Party, resident, housing minister
     • Against
       • Resident, employee of shut down factory

10. Greenfield site case study- Oxford

    • Why it was redeveloped
      • New houses are needed as demand is greater than supply and house prices cost 15x the average pay of locals so it was unaffordable
        • Lot of people employed at the university and lots of students
    • Pros
      • Greenbelt sites are near A40 so access is easy
        • More houses reduces prices so more people move to Oxford
          • Recruits more people to the uni
            • Sites are aesthetically pleasing
    • Cons
      • Causes urban sprawl so nearby villages eg Wheatley lose their distinct cultures
        • Habitats can be destroyed
          • More commuting to work means that there is more pollution and dirty air for locals
    • Views
      • Against
        • Local council member, green party, local resident
      • For
        • Local resident, family wanting to move homes, housing minister