Milton Keynes (exam question)

For your local place and your contrasting place, evaluate the view that low income is the most important factor leading to deprivation

  • There are pockets of deprivation in areas of Milton Keynes such as Netherfield and Beanhill, in both social and economic criteria. However, Milton Keynes is a new city that has had no deindustrialisation similar to the rest of the UK

  • Many jobs in Milton Keynes are tertiary jobs, including retail and similar industries, which are relatively low income

  • Milton Keynes is relatively expensive, forcing people into pockets of low quality housing.

  • Other factors are leading to social deprivation, such as the inward migration of groups with low social mobility

  • A high dependency ratio is forming, as there has been a 43.6% increase in people aged 65+, compared to 11.6% for those aged 15-64

  • Community projects may help reduce social deprivation, however if there is no sense of community in the area because of migration then this could cause deprivation.

Explain how international and global influences have shaped the social characteristics of your local place

Economic influences

  • Centre:MK hosts brands from across the world, lots of overseas investment (e.g. Apple)

  • Amazon fulfilment centres, linking MK to network of global freight logistics.

  • Santander offices, £150 million investment

Cultural and demographic changes

  • Increase in the amount of people identifying as having no religion (from 31.3% in 2011 to 38% in 2021)

  • rise in job creation, particularly healthcare and technology sectors which is attracting people from different backgrounds.

  • Introduction of new cultures leads to a mix that influences place and individual identity

Location

  • Location has influenced the amount of inward migration in Milton Keynes, because of its proximity to key airports in the UK

Explain the changes in the demographic characteristics of one of these places.

  • Population of 287,000, with a 15.3% increase since 2011

  • Predominantly white (72%), with diverse ethnic groups emerging

  • this is because Milton Keynes is attractive for skilled and unskilled migrants because of its knowledge economy and also employment in the tertiary sector, including retail in Centre:MK

  • conflicts caused by this— there are tensions arising from rapid cultural shifts and the loss of traditional community bonds.

Explain the variations in the quality of the living environment within one local place you have studied.

  • Quality of the living environment varies between areas because

  • Netherfield— high % of low cost outdated social housing, IMD decile 1, quality of housing is assessed in IMD

  • Two Mile Ash— more parkland area that is well maintained

Explain the reasons for variation in the functions of your two chosen places.

  • differences in economic output: MK local economy valued at £14.03 billion, Plymouth economy is £5.03 billion

  • differences in history— Milton Keynes is a new town built to manage the demand for housing and overpopulation in London. It does not have much of an industrial past for this reason, and its economy has nearly always centred around tertiary and quaternary sectors. Plymouth is an old town that has faced deindustrialisation, as it had a heavy reliance on shipping and naval industry however this has disappeared because of foreign controversy

  • MK functions more as an economic centre due to its proximity to London, whereas because Plymouth is so far away it struggles to attract investment

  • Ultimately Plymouth is still trying to determine its identity as a city, as it must reinvent itself in order to attract investment and increase quality of life, whereas Milton Keynes has more of an established identity