Bristol

• Where do people live in the UK?

  • 82% of people live in urban areas
  • 1/4 of those live I London or the South East
  • Highland regions are mostly sparsely populated (Remote, hash)

  This is because of the industrial past, as more jobs were available in the city.
• Why is there now counter-urbanization

  • People can work from home
  • Aging population -> people choose to retire to live on the coast or in the country
• Bristol (regional and national features)

  • Culture and Entertainment - Hippodrome, Bristol Zoo, Bristol Aquarium
  • Industry and High tech jobs - Aardman, Luxury cars, Airbus, Aerospace
  • Tourism Attractions - Balloon Fiesta, Bristol Suspension Bridge, SS Great Britain
  • Religion - Two cathedrals - Bristol and Clifton Cathedral
  • Two Universities - University of Bristol, UWE
  • 2 Docks - Avonmouth, Royal Portbury
• Why is Bristol internationally linked?


  • Used to be a trade hub - Triangular hub (18th century), linked West Africa and West Indies
  • Changed traditional industries - tobacco -> finance and business -> high skill jobs
  • Good rail and road links - Easy access to London and Europe via train, ferry and planes (Bristol Airport)
  • Bristol University - Attracts many international students
  • 700,000 cars are imported each year from Japan, Germany and Korea
• Places where Bristol is connected to

  Regionally: Western Supermare (A roads)

  Nationally: Bath (Motorway)

  Internationally: Newport (Airport)
• How has Bristol become an important international city

  • Well connected city (M4, Airports) - Many people can commute to work from the surrounding areas, Lorries can easily access Bristol -> trade flourishes
  • Bristol has moved away from traditional industries - high tech - Economy more stable, easier to access help, creation of new jobs -> more money in tax -> improvement (multiplier effect)
  • Bristol University attracts students from abroad - youthful, well skilled population - Increased natural increase and jobs in city, less counter urbanisation, fulfill increase in high skilled jobs
• How has migration changed Bristol

  • Contributing to both local and national economy
  • Enriching city's cultural life (40,000 people attend St Paul's annually)
  • Improving level of skill when there's shortages e.g. 2 football teams and rugby union
  • Mainly young migrants help to balance aging populations
  • A hardworking and motivated workforce
  • Must provide education for kids whose first language isn't English - over 91 languages spoken in Bristol
  • Challenge of integration into the wider community
  • Pressure on housing and employment
• How is Bristol Changing due to social Opportunities?

  • Electrification of the rail line to London will reduce journey to 70 min - People can live in Bristol and commute to/visit from London
  • More people in Bristol under 16 than of pensionable age - Larger workforce in the future, vibrant underground music scene
  • Bristol's population is growing rapidly (over 2 million live within 50Km of the city) - Large potential workforce, BUT pressure on healthcare/education/housing
  • The population is becoming more ethnically diverse - Culture is diverse e.g. St Paul's Carnival
• Things to do in Bristol include

  We the Curious, Visit the harbour, St Paul's Carnival, Hippodrome, Aquarium, Wild Place, Balloon Fiesta, Cathedrals
• How will improvement help Broadmead

  • Pedestrianism - Decrease pollution levels, increased footfall (people walking by), more impulse shopping
  • CCTV - Decrease crime levels
  • Improving environment - Attracts investments, tourists, more money goes t the Central Business District
  • Opening of out-of-town shopping centre - Decreases crowds and travel time (pollution), but people choose to shop in newer, more updated areas
  • Opening of park and ride - Less cars needing to travel, less congestion, less pollution
• What is Bristol doing to improve the environment?

  • Primary students all plant trees
  • Improving energy efficiency
  • 175 businesses created a green action plan
  • International festival on green leadership in tech
  • Competition to develop mobile apps on environmental awareness
  • 100 electric car charging points

  This lead to Bristol becoming the first UK city to become the European Green Capital in 2015
• Urban Growth leading to Urban Sprawl

  Urban Growth lead to increased demand of housing due to WW2 housing being destroyed, so they were moved to the outskirts of the city, so more houses were built there so the city boundaries increased.

  Reduction of urban Sprawl:

  • Building on brownfield instead of Greenfield
  • 2006-2013, only 6% of new housing on Greenfield
  • By 2026, over 30,000 new homes planned on Brownfield e.g. Finzels reach
• How is Bristol improving its Integrated Transport System?

  • Bristol Park and Ride - Less cars going into the city -> traffic less congested
  • 20mph speed limit for cars in inner city areas - less congestion from accidents occuring, less injuries -> less pressure on healthcare services
  • Dedicated Bike Lanes - Encourages more people to cycle, less cars on streets
  • Metro Bus - Less stops and more direct route, quicker route so it makes more people use it, people pay before getting on the bus, so busses won't make unnecessary stops stops cash queues, -> quicker journey
  • Electrification of Rail
• Greenfield site example

  South Gloucestershire

  • Bradley Stoke built in late 1980s, with 1200 homes built, and 2000 planned by 2016 to 2017
  • HOWEVER, increases congestion, impacts land, habitats, services, facilities, effects flood risk, and loss of open space/informal recreational areas

  Targeted at: families, commuters, work from homers

  Advantages: Accommodates more people, spreads population, fills housing shortage, better quality of life, lower price

  Disadvantages: Increase congestion, affects flood risk, loss of open space, further from city
• Brownfield Site example:

  Bristol Harbourside

  • 2006 to 2013, 94% built on brownfield, 8000 new homes on 89 brownfield sites, growing need for student accomodation, rebuilds derelict areas, preserved buildings, city isn't dead in evenings
  • HOWEVER costs to much

  Targeted at: Young professionals (don't have to spend money on kids), richer people, more expensive, closer to city

  Advantages: Rebuilt derelict areas, some buildings preserved, city has living heart in evenings, help student accomodation needs, projects money into areas

  Disadvantages: Costs to much, pollution,hard build, congestion
• Creating Cleaner Environments in Bristol

  • Agreeing higher targets with contractors who handle waste -> higher standard of reduction
  • More education on recycling -> younger generation helps out parents
  • Specialised kerbside collections -> more convenient
  • Technological improvements -> easier to sort through trash
  • Reducing speed limits on motorways -> less emissions
  • Clean Air zones -> less high emissions in traffic
  • Electric vehicle programme -> 40 charge points in public car parks, but still not enough
  • Smartphone apps with information on public transport -> excludes the elderly
• Clean Spaces in Bristol: Case Study

  Hanham Hall

  • Created green spaces through allotments, green houses open spaces, and water dishes -> Biodiversity
  • Converted waste water and energy -> Solar panels on roof, rain water harvesting, grow food locally, large windows, natural light, south facing
  • Waste recycling - communal compost

  HOWEVER

  • Costs lots (accessibility), 65% of homes are expensive
  • Need better services
• Opportunities in Bristol

  Social:

  • Young population -> strong music scene eg clubs, bars etc
  • Wide range of recreational entertainment eg M shed
  • International Migration -> rich culture eg St Paul's

  Economic

  • FDI from TNCs -> positive multiplier effect eg Aardman
  • Manufacturing decline, finance and business expanded -> employment increase eg Airbus/Rolls Royce

  Environmental

  • Urban Greening -> Increased plants in urban areas -> Cheap, effective, increased air quality, increased urban drainage
• Challenges in Bristol

  Social

  • Housing - wealthy areas = high quality homes and mortgages, BUT deprived areas = low quality homes from council
  • Employment - Deindustrialization - Los of jobs regardless of qualifications

  Economic

  • Employment - Deindustrialization - Loss of jobs regardless of qualifications

  Environmental:

  • Dereliction - Abandoned places took over by squatters and look unsightly
  • Urban sprawl - Can work from home so don't need to live in loud city
• Social Deprivation in Bristol: Case Study

  Filwood

  • Location: West of Handrove and A37, South Bristol
  • Life expectancy: 78
  • Education: Only 36% got top grades at GCSE
  • Unemployment: 1/3 age 16-24 unemployment, over 1/2 long term unemployed or never worked
  • Crime: Over 1300 annually, 68% feel unsafe at night
  • Other: Poor access to shops selling fresh fruit and veg, lowest participation in active sport and creative activities in the city
• Social inequality in Bristol (Wealthy areas): Case Study

  Stoke Bishop

  • Location: South West of Westbury on Trym and He lease, East Bristol
  • Life expectancy: 83
  • Education: 50% have a degree, 94% of teens have equivalent of the highest grades in over 5 GCSEs
  • Unemployment: 3%
  • Crime: Less than 300 anually
  • Other: 81% of homes are new owner occupied, highest level of home ownership in Bristol, lots of semi-detatched homes that are more uniform, expensive cars, green spaces
• Bristol: National importance

  • Largest city in south west England
  • Education - 2 universities
  • Tourism - Uk's 8th most popular
  • Industry - Largest concentration of silicone chip manufacturers outside California
  • Culture/Entertainment - Home to Wallace and Grommit
• Regeneration in Bristol: Case Study

  Bristol Harbourside

  Why decline: Large cargo ships no longer could navigate the River Avon, new competition from larger, new docks at Avonmouth and Portsbury, Closer of several industries around harbour-> dereliction

  Effect of decline: Growing social and economic inequalities, derelict land, high unemployment

  How improve: Redevelopment of former dockland area, first development involved SS Great Britain, tourism -> money, Lloyds TSB relocated their HQ to the docklands, -> investment

  How financed: Public and private money, funding from the lottery
• What were some of the changes in Bristol Harbourside

  • iMAX theatre, Bristol Science Museum, Millennium Square
  • High-tech industries moved into modernised historic buildings eg Aardman
  • Bristol Harbourside is now one of the largest Redevelopment projects in Europe

  Went from Warehouse, storage facilities, dry docks for ship buildings, areas closed off to the public -> expensive loft apartments and waterside housing, bars, restaurants, hotels, public squares, artwork exhibition centres, museums and leisure functions.
• Compare pros and cons of the Bristol Harbourside Project

  Successes

  • Over 3000 new jobs were created from global companies e.g. Lloyds Bank
  • New festivals e.g. The Harbourside Festival bring many tourists
  • New housing provided many people with opportunities to live in such an exciting area
  • New sports facilities and space created specifically for the arts including M-Shed and Arnolfini

  Failures

  • Jobs created mostly in finance and high-tech businesses, so low skilled people can't get them
  • New houses are very expensive, mostly only 1-2 rooms(family)
  • Based on leisure, so bad if money crisis