Causes & consequences of urban trends in the UK

What is suburbanisation?

The outward spread of urban areas to suburbs & rural areas

What are the causes of suburbanisation?

- Growing populations create a demand for more housing, meaning that cities must expand

- Public transport & private car ownership allows people to live outside cities while still remaining connected to central urban areas 

- Land outside of cities is ideal to build on as it is cheaper & has more space for larger houses & gardens, making it a more attractive place for people to live 

What are the social consequences of suburbanisation?

- Houses outside of cities become a popular place to live as they as often bigger & cheaper

- If too many people start moving out of cities, the area as well as the houses could become derelict & vulnerable to vandalism

What are the economic consequences of suburbanisation?

- The development of services such as shopping centres in suburban areas creates job opportunities for locals

- If cities look empty & derelict, it could prevent future inward investment

What are the environmental consequences of suburbanisation?

- More parks & recreational spaces are built outside of cities

- Expands the congestion & pollution from cities into suburban & rural areas

What is counter-urbanisation?

The movement of people from urban areas into rural areas

What are the causes of counter-urbanisation?

- Many people want to escape the congestion, pollution & higher cost of living often found in cities  

- Rural areas are quieter, greener & safer, making it an attractive place to live, especially for families raising children

- Public transport allows easy commuting so people can live in rural areas while still being connected to urban areas 

- Working in rural areas is now more manageable due to more office buildings locating in outside of cities & high-speed broadband allowing people to work from home

What are the social consequences of counter-urbanisation?

- Cities can become abandoned & derelict if too many people start living in rural areas

What are the economic consequences of counter-urbanisation?

- Rural economy benefits due to more people using rural services

- House prices in rural areas increase as they become more in demand

What are the environmental consequences of counter-urbanisation?

- With more people attracted to living outside of cities, rural areas can become less rural & more congested

What is re-urbanisation?

The movement of people back into an area that has been previously abandoned

What are the causes of re-urbanisation?

- Government incentives

- Cities have a wider variety of shops, services & entertainment

- Urban areas are well connected & have good public transport

- There is often a wide range of job opportunities available in cities

What are the social consequences of re-urbanisation?

- Increasing population in cities means that the businesses & services in the area can benefit, grow & improve

- Redeveloped cities attract more visitors & tourists

What are the economic consequences of re-urbanisation?

- As the area starts to regrow, the local economy will benefit as more taxes are being paid

What are the environmental consequences of re-urbanisation?

- Increases congestion & pollution in that area

- Previous parks & green spaces could be replaced with office buildings & housing to accommodate for the people moving in

What is the Burgess model?

A land use model that divides urban areas into 5 zones:

- Central business district (CBD)

- Manufacturing zone

- Lower class residential zone

- Middle class residential zone

- Upper class residential zone

What are the key features & characteristics of the central business district?

- City centre

- Office buildings

- Busy

- Skyscrapers

What are the key features & characteristics of the manufacturing zone?

- Factories

- Industrial housing

What are the key features & characteristics of the lower class residential zone?

- Small housing

- Terrace houses

- Attached

What are the key features & characteristics of the middle class residential zone?

- Bigger housing

- Semi-detached

- Gardens

What are the key features & characteristics of the upper class residential zone?

- Large housing

- Big gardens

- Detached