Urbanisation

• London’s main waves of urbanisation occurred in the 1800s until the 1940s.

  London has roughly 9 million people and is predicted to become a megacity in 2050
• The demand for housing in London outstrips supply, meaning that urban sprawl and suburbanisation are a growing problem. House prices in the outer boroughs of London have increased, leaving many poorer income groups in the inner city. Growth of the suburbs is infringing on the green belt, and leading to more growth in areas outside London, like Slough and Guildford
• Factors that have influenced London’s growth are:

  o    Economic: London has a high concentration of jobs.

  o    Social and Political: Decision to encourage commonwealth migration post-war meant that London has become a multicultural centre, attracting migrants from around the world. Migrants to London are normally young, leading to higher rates of natural increase.

  Technology improves around transport and communications attract business, generating more jobs and consequent migration
• Deindustrialisation: Between 1971 and 1996 London shed around 600,000 manufacturing jobs leading to a decline in London's population. Most of these jobs were lost in London’s docklands as these jobs went abroad
• The service sector makes up around 3/4 of the UK's economy. London is famous for it’s financial sector
• Regeneration Policy: ‘Property Led Regeneration Policy’ led by the London Docklands Development Corporation (1981)

  o    Pros: Derelict docks were turned into iconic business centres, e.g. Canary Wharf.

  o    Investment attracted businesses like HSBC and JP Morgan, creating over 100,000 jobs.

  o    24,000 new homes , with improved public facilities such as health centres,  sports areas, and the Dockland Light Railway.
• Regeneration policy

  o    Cons: Locals priced out of their old areas. Led to ‘social cleansing’ of the area where the working class were priced out.

  o    New jobs were not aimed at old dockworkers.

  o    Loss of community.