Leeds

• Location of Leeds

  West Yorkshire, England. 169 miles north of London, 30 miles NE of Manchester.
• Population of Leeds

  812,000. Population increased by 8.1% from 2011 to 2021
• Natural increase in Leeds

  Low, average age is 38.1, life expectancy is 82.1, on avg people aged 65+ account for 15% of population
• Inward migration in Leeds

  High due to 3 universities attracting young adults. Largest group of people by age bracket is 20-24. Migrants have also come from other countries in the past e.g. Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
• Urbanisation in Leeds

  Urbanisation increased in 17th and 18th century due to industrialisation, Leeds expanded as centre of woollen industry.
• Problems resulting from rapid urban growth in Leeds

  Provision of housing, services, employment and strains on the environment.
• Suburbanisation in Leeds


  Underwear in early 19th century as middle-class suburbs created in Roundhay and Chapel Allerton. Improvements in railway transport and creation of electric tramway intensified suburbanisation.
• Reasons for urban sprawl in Leeds

  Increased demand for housing, especially family housing in suburb locations like Alwoodley.
• Counter-urbanisation in Leeds

  Growth into surrounding villages such as Bramhope with population of 3550 people, primary middle and upper classes who are moving out of the city.
• Deindustrialisation in Leeds

  Occurred in 1960s as mills/ factories closed due to more Asian countries becoming industrialised so they could produce goods and a much cheaper price due to low labour costs.
• Rise of the service economy in Leeds

  During late 1980s, Leeds' service economy began to grow and the city's key economic sectors are healthcare and medical technologies, financial and business sectors, digital and creative and retail. Leeds is largest centre for financial and business services outside London.
• University of Leeds

  Ranked top 100 best universities worldwide
• National importance of Leeds

  - 3 universities

  - 2nd largest financial centre outside of London

  - Major travel and tourism gateway with railway station and airport

  - Part of UK's northern powerhouse strategy
• Regional importance of Leeds

  - City services a large number of people who depend on it for jobs, education, health services, transport and entertainment.

  - Provides a large number of services and jobs to surrounding towns such as Harrogate, Agar forth and Castleford.
• Impact of physical geography on urban growth in Leeds

  Surrounded by a green belt so there is space around the city for expansion meaning urban sprawl is a significant challenge. River Air runs through city playing a key role in 17th and 18th century for transport of goods.
• South Bank pre-deindustrialisation

  Home to majority of factories, mills and warehouses
• Town centre mixed development in Leeds

  South Bank regeneration project where land use is mixed: apartments, office blocks, recreation and entertainment facilities like bars, restaurants and gyms.
• Cultural and Heritage Quarters in Leeds

  Leeds first direct arena, Opera North, Northern Ballet, Leeds Playhouse. Together the venues host over 70 major annual festival and arts events. Also home to corn exchange with 30 independent retailers and food outlets.
• Fortress developments in Leeds

  Gated communities in suburbs e.g Harewood Gate is a gated community with house prices in excess of £625,000
• Gentrification in Leeds, Hyde Park

  Accordingly to zoopla, house prices in Hyde park have risen by 26% in the last 5 years, also has a much larger percentage of private rented protoperties at 66.6% compared to 20%. Also an increase in trendy coffee shops, independent restaurants and bars to cater for student population.
• Gentrification in Leeds, Headingley

  Gentrification in Headingley due to students has meant house prices have risen by 28% since 2011.
• Post-modern western city Leeds

  Doesn't meet all characteristics but is beginning to experience post-modern architecture such as Bridgewater place and Trinity shopping centre. Majority of city's economy is generated through tertiary industry.
• How many people are affected by absolute poverty in Leeds (2018)?

  149,000
• Example of deprived areas in Leeds

  Beeston & Holbeck
• Social segregation in Leeds

  Inequalities in income, housing and access to services as well as increased pressure on education in some areas such as Harehills as extra staff are needed for pupils whose first language is not English (22% of primary school pupils).
• Cultural diversity in Leeds

  - During 1950s and 60s, immigrants from commonwealth countries such as Caribbean, India, Pakistan for post-war labour shortages

  - 12% of population born outside of UK
• How has cultural diversity in Leeds impacted the area.

  Wide variety of cultural events such as Leeds West Indian Carnival.
• Housing issues in Leeds (Social issue)

  Average house prove in 2015 was 7x higher than average single income. Loss of 2000 council homes from Leeds property market since 2009.
• Between April 2019 and 2020, how many people visited Leeds food banks?

  40,000
• Strategies to reduce social and economic inequalities in Leeds

  - Leeds Best City council plan

  - ASDA Middleton store

  - Charities e.g. St Luke's cares
• Overview of 'Leeds Best Council Plan'

  Focus on creating right conditions for economy to prosper. Involves council, local businesses and charities as well as investors such as Hammerson who invested £114,000.
• Overview of ASDA contribution in Leeds

  When opening Middleton store they committed to local employment partners which guaranteed the 375 new jobs went to local workers. Applicants were given interview skills and advice on application forms.
• St Luke's cares contribution in Leeds

  Offers a range of services and mentoring programmes such as 'The Shine project' for vulnérame girls to raise their self esteem and the TRY project to offer free hand son retail training. P
• Waste produced annually in Leeds

  470kg per household, 306000 tonnes. 40% is recycled
• RERF Leeds

  60% of waste, 'black bin' rubbish in Leeds goes to the RERF. Saves £200 million over 25 years compared to landfill. Burning waste means enough energy is produced to power 20,000 homes annually.
• Air pollution in Leeds

  4.5% of adult deaths in Leeds are connected to exposure to air pollution. Reported in 2019 that Neville Street was the worst polluted street outside of London with nitrogen dioxide level more than 2x suggested limit.
• Pollution reduction policies in Leeds

  - Clean air charging zone, planned for 2020 but eventually cancelled.

  - Leeds City Council run a zero emissions fleet

  - Free trials of electric vehicles for businesses

  - Schemes to increase use of public transport and cycling including more park and ride spaces, bus lanes and expanding cycle network.