Changing settlements of the UK

Changing settlements of the UK

1. Rural Settlements

   • Remote rural communities
     • Found in areas such as: Scottish Highlands, Lake District, the Pennies
       • Hard to get to, Poor transport links, Often depend on farming.
       • Ageing, declining population
   • Retirement communities
     • Attractive locations: Near the coast, Edges of Natinal Parks.
       • Retired people 'Downsize' their home.
       • Stable, aged population.
       • Accessible and close to towns
   • Commuter Villages
     • Found around cites. (E.g. Chelmsford, near London)
       • Dormitory settlements for people who want to live in the countryside, but be able to get to work.
         • Very Accessible
         • Rising Population.

2. Deprivation

   • Lacking something that is considered 'normal' by most of society.
     • A warm home
     • Feeling safe and secure
     • A decent income
     • A good education.

3. Residential areas

   • High house prices
     • As of rising demand (e.g. Cambridge - More students want to attend the Uni)
       • Young people cannot afford to buy highly-priced houses.
         • Sharing houses, in cramped conditions.
       • Key workers (Nurses, carers and Council workers etc.)
         • Needed, but cannot afford a house
   • Options to add space.
     • Build upon 'Greenbelt' land.
       • Destroy habitats
       • Meet objections from locals/ environmentalists
     • Brownfield sites
       • Pre-developed areas
       • Usually a small space
         • Enough for a block of flats
           • Or a few houses.
     • Urban Green Space
       • Public space being destroyed and used
         • e.g. Midsummer common
         • Public objection.

4. Rebranding

   • Changing the image of an area
     • Outsiders see it in a positive way
       • Attracts people and investment

5. Regeneration

   • Phsyical redevelopment of an area
     • Derelict / abandoned areas brought back to life

6. Employment

   • Changes in employment have dramatic impacts in rural areas
     • The closure of a mine, declining numbers of workers due to out-ward migration
       • Impacts the Rural Economy
   • e.g. Fishermen, Farmers, Miners
   • Many turn to tourism
     • Although it makes jobs, it has issues
       • Seasonal
       • Very much depends on the weather
       • Pay and skill levels are low
       • Fickle, Popular places last year, may not be popular the next year
     • The "Eden Project, Cornwall"
       • Built on Brownfield site
         • Former China clay quarry
       • 400 jobs were made. 200 further seasonal jobs.
       • 13million visitors, £1 billion to the economy.
       • Local pubs and hotels benifited
       • Added roughly 2500 jobs to the economy
       • Uses Rainwater harvesting
         • Applied to build a geothermal powerstation
           • Makes it more sustainable
           • Enough electricity to power 4000-5000 homes
       • Traffic congestion when it first opened led to 70 jobs lost
         • But has been fixed so more people can access the area
       • Could stop outward migration
         • More job opportunites for young people.

7. Conserving rural areas

   • Greenbelts
     • Area of land that are protected from further development.
     • Divide cities to stop urban sprawl
     • Preserve farmland
     • Ensure reuse of brownfield sites
     • Recreational and leisure areas
   • National parks
     • 25 worldwide
     • Cover 6% of the earths surface
     • Conserve and enhance the worlds natural beauty
     • Promote the enjoyment of nature