4.2A Changing functions and characteristics

• Reasons an area changes their function:

  • administrative
  • retail
  • commercial
  • industrial
• gentrification = the process whereby the character of a poor urban area is changed by wealthier people moving in, improving housing, and attracting new businesses, often displacing current inhabitants in the process.
• ethical composition = is the ethnic group make-up of a population. In the UK the main groups are white, Asian and black. Ethnicity is different from nationality
• Administrative:

  • These are places that make decisions about how to organise infrastructure and economic activity for the surrounding areas e.g. council offices
  • Tend to be urban areas that influence the region surrounding them, e.g. Manchester’s influence in the North West
• Commercial 

  • A location with strong business influence. Transnational Corporations (TNCs) may have bases there 
  • There is a large volume of small and large-scale businesses e.g. legal services, accountants
• Retail

  • An urban area with attractive retail facilities - markets, shopping centres, unique shops
  • The retail industry is the main source of income and employment for locals
• Industrial:

  • A location whose economy and reputation is predominantly based on its industrial capacity
  • E.g. Sheffield is known as the Steel City for its large industries of steelworks
• Demographics:

  • New functions will attract different types of people e.g. older/younger, more skilled, higher education qualifications
  • Places that are experiencing economic growth will likely attract more young peopleand become more ethnically diverse
  • Reading has experienced economic growth due to its developing commercial function, resulting in younger, more economically active people moving there
  • 30% of its population are aged 26-45