South Cambridgeshire & Outer Hebrides (N/S divide)

Describe the area of South Cambridgeshire.

• mostly rural

• population is 150,000 but is increasing due to migration

• migrants mostly come from the city of Cambridge or other areas of the UK (internal migration)

What are the economic and social impacts of of population growth in South Cambridgeshire?

Social:

• Lack of affordable housing

• 80% car ownership leads to congestion

• increasing number of migrants puts pressure on local services

economic:

• reduction in agricultural employment as farmers sell their land for housing development

• UK’s highest petrol prices due to high demand

• modern developments of old farm buildings has reduced community spirit but does provide jobs in the industry

• young people can’t afford the high house prices and move away

Describe the area of the Outer hebrides.

• 27,400 people

• most live on island of Lewis which is a chain of 65 islands

• overall population decline of more than 50% since 1900 through outward migration

What are the economic and social impact of population decline in the Outer Hebredes?

economic:

• the main farm economy is breeding sheep on small farms called Crofts. There is not enough to persuade people to come over and work there

• many younger people moving away causes fewer people of working age to live in the outer Hebrides

social:

• school children decreasing causes schools to close

• only a few fishing boats compared to 900 after world war 2 - means less people enter this industry

• an ageing population could cause care issues in the future