Case Study - Birmingham

• Players


  Individuals, groups of people or formal organisations who can influence or be influenced by the process of change
• Birmingham


  A large metropolitan region in the heart of the West Midlands conurbation
• The population of Birmingham is 1.1 million
• Birmingham pre-industrial revolution


  1. Was a poor agriculture manor until 1166 when markets were formed since the Bermingham family bought the Royal charter

  2. Medieval Birmingham had six big markets and parish churches

  3. Metal working began - the Black country was the heart of the raw materials for Birmingham
• Birmingham during the industrial revolution

  1. Birmingham's population grew to 15,000 - due to the rural to urban migration

  2. The Middle class grew along with industries who needed bankers and lawyers

  3. After the first factories were made, the gun, jewellery and brass industries needed to supply a growing population
• Mathew Boulton


  • The first entrepreneur who established the first ever factor in 1761 - soho manufactory brought in 700 employees
• Cadbury family


  • Set up the Bournville factory and workers village on the outskirts of the city - encouraged more workers to move
• Lloyds and Midland Banks


  • Were established
• Transport infrastructure


  • In 1838, the London to Birmingham railway was set up
• Birmingham 1900s to 1950s

  1. Car industry developed and helped Birmingham develop throughout the wars and economic crashes

  2. Large areas of terraced houses were built to fit in lots of workers and their families into homes near the factory

  3. With limited personal mobility, the poorest of society lived within walking distances to their work

  4. The middle class could afford cars and transport so their mobility widened allowing urban expansion to occur

  5. Birmingham's demographic was manly white ethnic males who dominated the work place (60%

  6. Transport innovations trams, railways and later buses

  7. The suburbs had detached houses but the inner city was densely populated which were poor quality
• Austin car plant


  • Opened in 1906 in Longbridge and employed 10,000 workers
  • Dunlop tyre company opened afterwards
• Birmingham post-war economy


  1. Earnings fell from one of the highest nationally to the lowest by the 1980s

  2. In 1982, unemployment reached 19.4%

  3. This was due to deindustrialisation

  4. The 1973 oil crisis made Birmingham go to a recession. The embargo impacted the global economy as the price of oil was very expensive
• National government


  • Encouraged TNCs to move abroad and encourage foreign investment which increased competition forcing UK industries to shut
  • The Japanese car manufacturing was making in roads into the UK market - VW, Renault
  • The local governments would charge rent for small businesses - they had to leave because it was so expensive
• During WW2, 5000 homes were destroyed and 81,000 new dwellings were constructed
• The economy became serviced based and many people moves to towns such as Redditch
• Birmingham demography change post-war

  1. From the 1950s more immigrants moved towards the infer city

  2. Many migrated from South Asia and the Far East

  3. The religious landscaped changed which influenced the economic landscape

  4. The city had a youthful population - 38% were 24 or younger (31% for England)
• Birmingham Heartlands Development Corporation


  • Established in 1992 to being regeneration into old industrial areas
• New Deal for communities scheme

  • Provided broadband access in parts of the inner city and improve employability in 1999
• Role of local/national govt

  • The local govt actively promoted the city region attracting inward investment with the construction of the National Exhibition centre and the expansion of Birmingham International Airport
  • Both improved the city's accessibility as money through conferences and trade
  • The city council has European and International Affairs teams who seek to promote Birmingham beyond the UK to gain funding - £235 million was secured form the EU social investment fund for 2014-20 which has gone into projects to improve insulation in homes
• Flagship developers


  • The role of flagship developed in the centre of the city (Centenary Square)
  • Victoria square, the Council House and the Town Hall have been refurbished - partially funded by the EU and created the International Convention centre and Symphony Hall - international investment and tourism
• University


  • Brings in 50,000 students which brings in significant wealth
  • They employ workers and students needed many goods and services
• Private developers


  • The redevelopment of the Bull Ring mall in the 1960s - this was Europes first major indoor shopping centre - this country leading retail centre
  • In 2013, the new library was built as a result of a £189 million investment at Centenary square
  • Many streets have been largely ignored but the River Trust, local govt and private sector contributed to the regeneration
• Transport


  • The main railway station, New Street, has been transformed by a £700 million investment by Network Rail, private developers and retail such as John Lewis
  • The tram system has returned - Midlands Metro links central Birmingham to other places such as Wolverhampton
  • HS2 is the national govts flagship developers which would link London to Birmingham - £20 billion
  • M6 links to the M1 which links to the East; the M24 provided a ring road to the south - govt policies through private investment to reduce congestion
  • The Birmingham Development plan guides decisions in the city
• Anglia Square regeneration


  • Private players - US based investment company purchased the land from the council for £7.5 million
  • Weston Homes submitted plans to demolished the centre and Sovereign House to build a new retail and housing development including 1100 new homes
  • Public players - The National and local government. In 2020, the Homes Secretary rejected the plans since it did not protect the heritage of the city. The scheme was supposed to receive £15 mil in funding but the delays made it eligible for £7 mil
  • Local people - only 10% if the new homes would have been affordable
• The Labour council leader stated that the Anglia Square regeneration would bring in £21.9-36.4 million per year to Norwich's economy
• Many ships owners and small businesses felt left out - more competition, have to shut due to higher rents and more competition
• Weston Homes pulled out the funding and the council is currently looking for a loan to buy back the land
• Natural England and Save England's heritage groups

  • Managed to block the Anglia Square development stating that it would ruin the skyline and heritage