economic change - birmingham

• birmingham 


  large metropolitan region in the heart of the west midlands conurbation

  population - 2.6 million 2024

  third largest city in the UK to london and manchester (2023)
• birmingham - key past events


  machines for processing cotton invented in bham in 1730/40s

  electro-plating and pneumatic tyre either invented or first used in the city

  boulton and watt began partnership in bham 1775, revolutionising production of steam engines

  first medical xray taken there in 1896
• birminghams development to the 1960's


  pre industrial revolution = relatively poor agricultural manor

  FIRST PLAYERS TO INFLUENCE CHANGE = de Bermingham family who purchased a royal charter allowing them to hold markets from 1166 = began to grow via trade

  metal working established in pre medieval birmingham

  power came from watermills

  produce became increasingly non-agricultural such as blades for swords
• birmingham and economic change - industrial revolution

  early 1700's population was 15000

  middle classes increasing as service sectors such as law / banking developed

  development of clearly differentiated housing areas based upon socio-economic status

  19th century = domination of gun, jewellery, button and brass industries

  industry and trade required financing = banks, insurance and legal firms developed

  transport infrastructure developed - heart of national canal network and Midland terminus of London to Birmingham railway opened in 1838
• key players in economic change in birmingham - industrial revolution

  MATTHEW BOULTON established first factory in the world in 1761 - Soho Manufacturing which employed 700

  CADBURY FAMILY set up bournville factory and model village for workers on southeast outskirts of city
• birmingham and economic change - 1900 to 1950s


  new engineering industries developed - Austin car plant 1906

  vehicle industry grew = small firms supplying industry developed

  first half of 20th century = sustained economic growth accompanied by continuous population growth

  large areas of terraced housing built for workers squeezed into spaces
• birmingham and economic change - 1900 - 1950s

  development of middle classes who commute drove rural expansion

  up to 1950 = population overwhelmingly white, employment male dominant

  decades of industrial activity led to highly polluted canals and rivers and air pollution reached high levels due to lack of regulation
• key players in economic change in birmingham - 1900-1950s

  DUNLOP TYRE COMPANY 1917 - employed 10,000 people by 1950's
• birmingham and economic change - industrial decline

  between 1970 and 1983, earnings fell from highest in the UK to almost the lowest of any region

  unemployment reached 20% - 1982

  birmingham greatly affect by global recession in 1970's and oil crisis of 1973

  1970's - british vehicle industry in decline
• key players in economic change in birmingham - industrial decline (MIDDLE EAST NATIONS)

  fragile geopolitics lead to Arab-Israeli war

  most western countries supported Israel and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) dominated by Arab states used oil supplies as a weapon

  oil price increased tenfold due to effects on supplies
• key players in economic change in birmingham - industrial decline (TNC'S)

  increasing competition from tnc's based overseas in countries with lower production costs threatened traditional industries

  foreign based TNC's and japanese car manufacturers made in-roads into british car market

  some overseas car manufacturers established factories in the UK but none in west midlands - heavily influence by grants from central governments attracting them to regions with greater economic problems that birmingham
• birmingham and economic change - industrial decline

  1970 - 1983 - earnings fell from highest in UK to lowest of any region

  unemployment reached 20% - 1982

  birmingham greatly affected by global recession in 1970's and oil crisis of 1973

  1970's - british vehicle industry in decline + strikes frequent during 1970's (management and unions PLAYERS) = less attractive to investors
• birmingham and economic change - industrial decline

  local authority's desire for 'comprehensive redevelopment' saw many small industrial premises demolished = Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SME'S) had difficulty finding suitable premises and those provided by authorities had unaffordable rent for start-up businesses
• birmingham and economic change - housing

  WW2 = 5000 houses destroyed and many more damaged

  immediate post war years = 110,000 substandard houses

  local government resisted large scale development but scale of housing need saw 400 tower blocks built 1950-60s

  1945-1970 = 81,000 new dwelling created

  national and local governments established green belt around city restricting outwards expansion = increased property value adjacent to belt
• birmingham and economic change - housing

  redevelopment = redistribution of people from central zone to peripheral estates such as Castle Vale, people also moved to new towns and flows

  economy became more service orientated = flows of commuters increased from outer areas into inner city
• birmingham and economic change - ethnic demography

  1950s+ = significant international in-migration in inner city areas

  most immigrants = caribbean, south asia and far east

  cluster in areas of cheaper housing with good access to employment

  growing service sector required range of low skilled jobs

  become cosmopolitan city which was soon reflected in religious landscape

  great diversity of ethnic food shops and restaurants appeared

  ethnic clothing and fabric shops and financial services such as banks based in home countries of migrants now added to increasingly diverse service functions
• birmingham and economic change - age demography

  relatively youthful population compared with england

  • 40% are 24 or younger vs 31% england
  • elderly in birmingham (65+) = 13% vs 16% for england
• birmingham and economic change - role of LOCAL government in recent regeneration


  promotes city region and attracts inwards investment = construction of National Exhibit Centre (NCE) and expansion of Birmingham international airport

  both developments attract international conference and exhibit market = brings significant money into the region

  improved international accessibility also attracts investment
• birmingham and economic change - role of NATIONAL government in recent regeneration


  national government schemes - City Challenge and Single Regeneration Budget designed to help places access funding for redevelopment

  Birmingham Heartlands Development Corp established 1992 to bring regeneration to old industrial areas such as Nechells

  1999 - New Deal for Communities scheme provided broadband access in parts of the inner city and set up work-experience programmes to improve employment opportunities
• birmingham and economic change - role of NATIONAL government in recent regeneration


  city council has European and International Affairs team who promote Bham beyond the UK to gain funding

  £235 million secured from EU Social Investment Fund for 2014-20

  money from European Regional Development Fund has helped improve insulation in run down social housing and building small premises for start up SME's
• birmingham and economic change - role of flagship developments in recent regeneration

  International Convention Centre and Symphony Hall 1991 - home to City of Birmingham Orchestra, convention centre attracts international and national conferences == multiplier effect as hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities benefit from visitors

  National Indoor Arena attracts large sporting events

  Bull Ring redevelopment 1960s = europes first major indoor shopping centre

  introduction of Selfridges department store

  2013 = library reopened as a result of £189 ml investment
• birmingham and economic change - role of planning in recent regeneration


  planning = physical change which catalyses socio-economic change

  more public spaces developed in centre - centenary square

  victoria square and surrounding buildings refurbished

  3 unis = 50000 students - brings wealth via employing large numbers of people who then have money to spend, and student spending

  streets pedestrianised and provided with furniture and trees

  canals and surroundings regenerated = CANAL AND RIVER TRUST CHARITY, local government and private sector = regeneration of Gas Street Canal and Brindley Place
• birmingham and economic change - role of transport

  main railway station - new street - transformed through £700 million investment involving Network Rail, private developers and retailers such as John Lewis = Grand Central -- provides 1000 jobs

  return of tram and light rail systems linking central bham with places to the west such as west brom and wolves

  birmingham is hub of national motorway network - developed by national government, but private investment responsible for toll motorway on M6
• birmingham and economic change - role of transport HS2

  NATIONAL GOVERNMENT FLAGSHIP -£20billion Phase 1 links london and birmingham which involves lots of players - national/local govt, TNCS in engineering, banks, local community groups and NGOS

  gets from euston to birmingham 20 minutes quicker

  however - 2 year hiatus taken from project due to soaring costs

  whole line north of birmingham has been axed