The Challenge of Resource Management

• Urbanisation is when people move from the rural areas to the urban

  areas. This increases the proportion of people living in urban area

  compared to rural areas.
• Push factors for rural-urban migration:

  • Population pressure
  • Poor infrastructure
  • Inadequate job offers
  • Bad educational chances
  • Poor health care
  • Ecological problems
  • Natural disasters
  • Social compulsions
• Pull factors for rural-urban migration:

  • Improvement in the standard of living
  • Better health care and availability of services
  • Varied employment oppurtunities
  • Higher wages
  • Quality of education
  • No social compulsions
  • Future prospects
• Natural Change


  Birth rates are higher than death rates.
• Urban spaces


  Towns or cities
• Rural


  Countryside / villages / hamlets
• Urban sprawl


  Urban spaces advancing outwards or upwards
• Counter urbanisation


  People moving into rural areas from cities
• Suburbanisation


  People moving to the suburbs (outer) from the inner city
• Megacity


  A very large city, typically one with a population of over ten

  million people.
• The population is projected to grow by 9.7 million over the next 25 years, to 74.3 million. Latest figures show there are 67.2 (2020) million people in the UK. The statistics predict an ageing population, with some 29.5% of people aged over 60 by 2039 - up from 23.2% this year.
• The UK population is unevenly distributed, with 83% living in urban areas. These areas developed during the industrial revolution.
• Major cities have developed with high population densities.
• The biggest cities grew in importance because of their position as capital cities (London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast).
• Relief (land height) plays a major role in where people choose to live as well as access to the sea/ rivers.
• Other cities developed for different reasons e.g. Birmingham for its central location, Liverpool & Bristol for their coastal location and access to trade.
• Upland areas e.g. The Lake District tend to have a lower population density. These sparsely populated areas have fewer natural resources and a difficult to farm.
• Lowland areas e.g. Birmingham tend to have a higher population density. These densely populated areas have more natural resources, are easier to build on and have a milder climate.
• People are attracted to live in coastal areas where ports and harbours can be built (Liverpool, Cardiff).
• Historically, population growth was highest in areas with mineral wealth (coal, iron ore). This allowed industries to grow and urban areas to expand (Newcastle, Leeds).
• Most Uk cities have distinct areas called zones.
• The Burgess Model - Concentric Zone Model

  A) Inner city

  B) Inner suburbs

  C) Outer suburbs

  D) Central Business District

  
• The Central Business District (CBD) is usually in the middle of a town or city. It has its main public buildings, train and bus stations, hotels, shops, offices, restaurants and entertainment facilities.
• The inner city area often has a mix of land uses - mainly residential (including old terraced houses, high-rise tower blocks and modern housing built in redevelopment programmes) but with some businesses and recreational parks. Lots of short, parallel roads often show areas of terraced housing in the inner city.
• The suburbs are found towards the edge of the city. They are mainly residential areas, often with semi-detatched houses. It will have lots of short, curved streets and cul-de-sacs on the map.
• The rural-urban fringe is on the edge of the city. It has farmland and open spaces as well as new housing developments and large retail and business parks.
• Deindustrialisation


  The decline of manufacturing within a country.
• Urban Regeneration


  The revival of old parts of an urban area by either installing modern facilities to

  old buildings or redeveloping areas by demolishing buildings and starting a

  fresh.
• Deprivation


  Extreme differences between poverty and wealth, as well as in peoples' wellbeing and access to things like jobs, housing and education.
• Pollution


  The presences of chemicals, noise, dirt, or other substances that have harmful or poisonous effects on the environment.
• Net migration


  The sum change in migrant numbers between those coming into an area (in-migrants) and those leaving (out-migrants).
• Issues on building on brownfield sites:

  • Old buildings may need to be demolished first.
  • Ground may need to be decontaminated.
  • New development can improve the urban environment.
  • Land is more expensive in urban areas.
• Issues on building on greenfield sites:

  • Public transport is worse in rural areas, so more need for cars
  • Increases urban sprawl.
  • Once land is built on, it is unlikely to be turned back to countryside.
  • Valuable farmland or land for recreation may be lost.
  • Natural habitats may be destroyed.
• Benefits on building on brownfield sites:

  • Sites are available since industry declined.
  • Reduces the need for urban sprawl.
  • Public transport is better in urban areas, so less need for cars.
• Benefits on building on greenfield sites:

  • Land is cheaper in rural areas.
  • No demolition or decontamination is needed.