GCSE GEOGRAPHY BIRMINGHAM CASE STUDY

What is the site, situation and connectivity of Birmingham

Was a market down during 18th century

Built on dry plateau

Second most populated city in the UK

National importance of Birmingham

Most centrally located city in the UK

HS2 will pass through Birmingham

Birmingham airport connects 150 countries to Brum

Global importance of Birmingham

ICC has welcomed millions of visitors and has injected nearly £1.5 Billion to the local economy since 1991

Home to three top Universities, UoB, Aston, Birmingham City

Significant regeneration in Bullring area has made it a central retail hub

Birmingham’s city structure

CBD is relatively new and of good quality but limited green space

Some inner city areas such as Brindley Place have been redeveloped

More affluent suburbs (sutton coldfield) and less affluent ones (washward heath)

How is migration changing Birmingham

Combination of push and pull factors

Studentification in Aston has occurred

Many international migrants have settled in inner city areas as there are low cost housing

Age structure, ethnicity, population, housing and services

Immigrants often young

Very diverse ethnicities

These areas predicted to experience biggest increase in population

The houses are often older and less quality

Often some of the cities most deprived and poor areas

Inequality in Birmingham

Much of this stems form the downturn of manufacturing which left many areas such as Digbeth with high unemployment

Birmingham’s central areas suffer from poorer air quality

Some people have biases against migrants which can lead to racial tensions

Which areas of Birmingham have suffered decline and why

The inner city has experienced the most decline with a decline in pop of 500,000 from 1950 - 1970

Better transport meant workers could live further away and therefore their previous locations became depopulated

De-industrialisation contributed to Birmingham’s decline

What are some factors that contributed to Birmingham’s economic decline

Insufficient room for expansion

Deteriorating structures

Congested road network

Decentralisation - Online shopping and shopping centres such as merry hill made sure that retail was no longer only concentrated in the CBD

Birmingham’s rural urban fringe

Encompasses Birmingham airport and the national exhibition centre

There are also many golf courses and shopping centres

Jaguar Land rover also employ many people

Factors for economic growth in Birmingham

Jewellery

Enhanced rail connections to south east

Lots young people so there is a large workforce

Available land where factories used to stand can be redeveloped

Gentrification in Birmingham

Mosley is an example of this as it was redeveloped in the 1980s

It also has a strategic location just 2 miles from the QE and UoB

Studentification

Has occurred primarily in Selly oak

Leads to shops that reflects student shared lifestyle

There can be an increase in antisocial behaviour

How has urban living become more sustainable

Recycling - Recycling rate England was 44% in 2013 but Brums was 30% which contributed to the recycling initiative

Green transport - Large bus route (national express)

Green spaces - Birmingham has over 500 parks

Sustainability - Birmingham 15th on sustainable cities list

How are Brum and the surrounding rural area interdependent

Commuting connections

Trade relations (ie agricultural produce)

Rural regions accommodate space for the disposal of solid and liquid waste

Leisure activities provided by the rural areas such as golf

What are some drawbacks of this interconnectedness

Escalating land prices in rural regions

Lack of daytime population in commuter villages can lead to local businesses closing

Advantages of rural diversification

Increased income

Financial stability

Preservation of tradition

What are 2 things from rural diversifcation

Accommodation - Many farmers now make bed and breakfasts to have additional income streams

Leisure activities - National parks and hiking trails