4.7b

• why did the government want fracking to occur?

  • it's estimate that the north of England has 37millm3 of shale gas
  • In 2015, £300 billion of oil and gas were found near Gatwick Airport
  • National interest from increase energy security
  • Can stimulate investment in deindustrialised areas in the north = creates jobs and positive multiplier effect
  • new way of getting fossil fuels
• environmental objections to fracking?

  • pollution of ground water
  • geological instability and can lead to sink holes and buildings and infrastructure becoming instable due to minor earthquakes
  • land has to be cleared to make space for fracking which can be valuable land e.g. farmland and national parks = loss of biodiversity
  • noise pollution from machinery and increased traffic --> air pollution
• social objections to fracking

  • protests from local residents and environmental groups in the community
  • noise pollution e.g. public opposition to drilling in Lancashire in 2015
  • non-renewable sources of energy are finite and contribute to climate change --> not putting investment into finding renewable energy sources
  • mining on valuable farmland and rural villages can cause people to be displaced and ruin the character of their village due to increased traffic, increased migration into area
  • direct action from public - trying to disrupt process
• Government's fracking policy in August 2019:

  • UK's biggest fracking tremor of 2.9mag quake near Cuadrilla's site near Blackpool --> caused houses to shake
  • operations have been suspended after a series of gradually increasing micro seismic events
  • verified by the British Geological Society that it easily exceeded the Government's 0.5ML (local magnitude) limit on seismic activity, causing fracking to be banned
• Government's fracking policy in September 2022:

  • UK government lifted ban on fracking, due to Russia's war on Ukraine and the 'weaponization of energy'
  • Liz Truss placed a much stronger emphasis on energy security and aims for the UK to become a net exporter of energy by 2040
  • Despite warnings from energy analysis that any significant gains from shale gas production could be many years off
• Government's fracking policy in October 2022

  • Fracking will remain banned under Rishi Sunack's government and is committed to the policy in the 2019 manifesto
• Impact of international migration on the labour market:

  • young adults willing to work create opportunities and set up businesses in towns with ageing populations (can increase birth rate so decreasing ageing population)
  • set up businesses to meet the needs of their diaspora = creates jobs and brings other cultures to area e.g. cultural food
• Impacts of international migration on UK growth:

  since 2006, East European entrepreneurs have set up many businesses in towns with ageing populations --> can reduce property crime and antisocial behaviours (stops broken window theory) --> helps regeneration
• How was the governments immigration policy been adjusted post-Brexit?

  migration restrictions on EU citizens (same as rest of world)

  for a general work visa, they must:

  • have a job offer from an approved employer
  • for a middle-skilled job or higher --> especially skill shortages
  • speak English at the required level
  • be paid the higher of the going rate or the general salary threshold for experienced workers set at £25,600
• what is deregulation?

  reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually to create more competition within the industry
• what is the impact of deregulation of capital markets on the growth of the UK?

  • transformed London into a major World City
  • opened up freedom of individuals to invest
  • Barriers stopping foreign banks setting up in London were removed = creates jobs = increased tax revenue
  • allowed
• what is the purpose of planning laws?

  ensuring development is appropriate for the area e.g. greenbelt areas prevent urban sprawl (multiple urban areas joined) greenbelt areas are protected by strict planning regulations to protect countryside e.g. National Parks
• who controls planning?

  central and local governments control development through a plan-led system that includes mediation to try to reconcile conflicts
• what is the relationship between local and national planning?

  national interests by national gov may override local interests in planning decisions. Led by the government's National Planning Policy framework
• what is planning gain? + example

  planners allow development if there's a benefit to the local community e.g. social housing
• what is planning blight?

  investors are unwilling to commit to a development plan until a decision is made
• what can the local authority do if they are unhappy with a national scheme?

  they can appeal to the national government but the national government can override this
• what can slow down planning?

  planning blight

  house prices may fall and trap residents into not being able to move and landlords may not maintain properties, resulting in a downward spiral

  NIMBY protests and environmental objections

  finding an endangered species

  inflation
• why is demand for housing so high?

  rising population due to increasing immigration and birth rates

  increase in the number of households due to increasing divorce rates

  overseas investors buying property and leaving it unoccupied

  need for affordable housing - lots of social housing lost due to Right to Buy scheme
• why is housing used to affect economic regeneration?

  housing attracts people to live and work in an area = supply of skilled labour = attracts investment --> positive multiplier effect
• what is Labour's approach to housing? and who controls it

  social housing and large scale social housing schemes were built from 1918-1940 --> affordable rented housing of good quality

  control: social housing should be under local government's control e.g. council houses
• what is Conservative's approach to housing?

  to privatise housing under the 'Right to Buy' scheme --> now no reinvestment into social housing

  control: market-led --> increased demand = increased prices

  --> no government regulated house prices