CGP Birmingham Case Study

• Birmingham is a Post-Industrial City in the UK
• Birmingham

  • It is a political, social and economic hub
  • In the 19th century, the growth of metalworking and heavy industry caused a boom in population and economic growth
• Birmingham in the 1970s and 1980s


  • Suffered from deindustrialisation
  • The decline of the metalworking industries led to widespread unemployment, poverty and dereliction
• Birmingham's city centre

  • Urban regeneration programmes have helped to redevelop it
  • However, the city still suffers from social and economic issues
• Birmingham is divided into rich and poor areas
• The poorest areas tend to be close to the city centre, eg Sparkbrook and Aston, whereas richer areas tend to be further from the centre in more rural areas, eg Sutton Coldfield
• The average income in Handsworth, the poorest area of Birmingham, is £19,000 per year, compared to £37,090 in Edgbaston, the richest area
• More than 100,000 children in Birmingham live in poverty, and many families rely on food banks
• Average life expectancy is 8 years lower for men and 6 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Birmingham than in the least deprived
• Around 6% of people in Birmingham are unemployed-unemployment is higher in poorer areas such as Hodge Hill (10.7%) than in richer areas, eg Sutton Coldfield (1.6%)
• Crime rates in Birmingham city centre are high. In 2016, an average of around 1100 crimes were reported every month-the most common crimes were anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. In comparison, only about 270 crimes a month were reported on average in Edgbaston
• Birmingham's population is ethnically diverse-in 2011, around 40% of the population were non-white
• The largest minority groups were Pakistanis (13%), followed by Black or Black British (9%)
• There are social and economic inequalities between ethnic communities
• Life expectancy is higher in areas with a majority white population than in minority communities
• White families are more likely than minority groups to be homeowners-64% of white people own their home, compared to 48% of Bangladeshis and 29% of Black Africans
• Many ethnic minorities face prejudice and discrimination, eg. verbal abuse and difficulty finding a job
• Birmingham's environment

  • Has improved since the industrial decline of the 1970s and 1980s, but there are still issues
• Environmental issues in Birmingham

  • Air pollution
  • Water pollution
  • Lack of green space
  • Flooding
  • Urban waste
  • Extreme weather events
• Air pollution

  • Some areas of central Birmingham have very poor air quality, eg, high levels of nitrogen dioxide which is produced by burning fossil fuels (eg, in cars and factories)
  • Air pollution can cause acid rain-this may contribute to acidification of rivers and canals, which can harm aquatic life
• Water pollution


  • Many rivers and streams in Birmingham are very polluted
  • Pollution comes from surface runoff from roads, wrongly connected drains and incorrect disposal of waste such as engine oil
  • High levels of pollution have reduced populations of some species of insects, with knock-on effects on other wildlife
• Lack of green space

  • Central Birmingham has relatively little green space
  • This reduces the city's ability to absorb greenhouse gases and other pollutants, and to moderate its climate
• Flooding


  • Lack of green space also contributes to high surface runoff and flash flooding
  • Flooding can increase erosion and deposition of sediment, which can damage ecosystems, eg. by silting of fish breeding habitats
• Urban waste

  • Birmingham produces 3.2 million tonnes of waste per year
  • The majority of waste is sent to landfill or incinerated-only around 25% is reused or recycled
  • This is adding to air and water pollution in the city
• Extreme weather events

  • Birmingham has a temperate climate with relatively little extreme weather
  • However, extreme events seem to be increasing in frequency-recent events including storms, drought and tornadoes
• Birmingham's physical environmental conditions

  Affect the social sustainability of the city and people's experiences of living there
• Impact of air pollution

  • Can cause respiratory problems, eg bronchitis, and worsen conditions such as asthma
  • Air pollution is linked to over 500 deaths in Birmingham each year
• Impact of lack of green space

  Levels of obesity in Birmingham are high, and around 40% of adults who don't do enough exercise claimed they would do more if they had better access to attractive open spaces
• Impact of flooding

  Causes damage to properties and businesses, for example, heavy rainfall in June 2016 flooded hundreds of homes, disrupted train services and forced several schools to close temporarily
• Impact of extreme weather events

  • Can also cause damage to property, eg in 2005 a tornado damaged hundreds of houses-over 100 families were evacuated and there was about £50 million of damage
  • Heatwaves and icy conditions also cause health problems
• Impact of derelict buildings

  • Some parts of Birmingham, eg Aston, have large numbers of derelict buildings
  • These can be targets for vandalism, and some residents feel unsafe in abandoned areas
• Key objectives of Birmingham City Council to increase sustainability

  • Improve transport links
  • Redevelop derelict areas
  • Increase green spaces
  • Improve waste management
• Improving transport links

  • The council is expanding New Street train station and constructing cycle lanes
  • This will help to limit the number of cars in the city centre, reducing air pollution
• Redeveloping derelict areas

  • Ongoing projects to regenerate derelict areas, eg by demolishing abandoned buildings and building new ones
  • For example, the council is undertaking extensive redevelopment projects in Eastside, including restoring canal side properties for residential use and creating parks and art galleries
• Increasing green spaces

  The council is creating new parks and green areas to improve the local environment, limit air pollution, reduce the risk of flooding and provide habitats for wildlife
• Improving waste management


  There are plans to decrease the amount of waste going to landfill, eg by encouraging composting and expanding facilities for recycling and energy recovery
• Changes to Birmingham's city centre

  • Regeneration of derelict areas and creating a more pleasant urban environment is attracting people back to the city
  • Since 2004, the city's population has increased by about 10%
  • Redevelopment of city centre shopping areas, eg, the Bullring, has increased the number of people visiting-Birmingham is now the second most popular shopping destination in the UK, after London
  • Birmingham has become a major tourist destination-about 37 million people visited the city in 2014
  • Visitors are drawn to the city by its industrial heritage, eg canals and historic buildings
  • Campaigns by Visit Birmingham have also raised national and international awareness of the city eg by marketing the city's German Christmas markets