Suburbanisation

• What is suburbanisation? 


  The movement from the inner city to the edge of an urban area(rural-urban fringe)

  Why?

  • Development of transport links
  • Increased ownership of cars - can commute to work

  Form of decentralisation
• EXAMPLE: Kendal:

  • The old showground retail park built 1991 on site of old recreational showground (Morrisons, Next, Halfords) > provided range of goods and employment > ↓ need to go to town centre > ↓ traffic but ↓ green space and near river so pollution
  • Farmland converted into residential area > ↓ green space and increase population > increase traffic
  • QKS built > increased younger population
• Causes of suburbanisation:

  1. Transport
  2. Government policy
  3. Communications/ technology
  4. Social
  5. Economic
  6. Environment
• 1. Transport:

  • Improvements in transport systems > cities/ towns expand, can live further away from centre & commute to work
  • Development of motorways & roads make suburban areas more accessible > commute
  • Early suburbanisation growth along routes of tramways, railways ('Linear suburbanisation')
  • Car ownership ↑ so m/c car owners decentralise & commute to work
• 2. Government policies:

  • After WW1 policy 'Homes fit for heroes' > ↑ living standards
  • Subsides for local authority housing (council) & private house builders
• 3. Communications/ technology:

  • ↑ communication tech e.g. broadband, video conferencing, emails > decentralisation
  • ↑ efficient package delivery systems > small business locate away from city centre where cheaper
• 4. Social:

  • ↑ living standards more in big houses > ↑ security
  • decline of inner city & perception of life in suburbs still attract people e.g. education standards in suburban schools > less crime
• 5. Economic

  • Price of farmland decreased > scope to build transport routes & housing & few planning restrictions
  • ↑ wages > afford better homes > ↑ security
• Positive impacts of suburbanisation:

  • ↑ industrial estates & business parks > employment for locals

  > E.g. Mintsfeet, Kendal

  • Improvements in transport systems - road and rail
  • Social factors e.g. decrease in crime, decrease in population pressure
  • Improve character of the area

  > E.g. Car showrooms, Kendal

  • ↑ sense of community

  > E.g. QKS Astroturf for hiring for sporting events, Kendal new rugby club

  • Improve derelict areas
• Negative impacts of suburbanisation:

  • ↑ traffic volumes > impact journey times > late for work, school etc

  > E.g. Appleby Road, Kendal

  • ↑ noise from traffic
  • ↑ pollution

  > E.g. Kendal Rugby Club next to river > surface runoff from car parks & impermeable surface may ↑ flood risk in town

  • Loss of green space
  • Lack of development of brownfield sites in town centres
• The bigger UK picture:

  Suburbanisation is a big issue in the UK since the country is relatively small

  • Large growing population (expected to reach 70 million in 2033) > high population density
  • Housing shortages & ↑ property prices
  • ↑ life expectancy & immigration = housing shortages
  • Gov need to build 240,000 houses/ year but where?
• Managing suburbanisation - building on the green belt 


  What is the Green Belt?

  • They are protected areas of land and cover 13% of England, with 14 separate green belts in England

  Green belts aim to:

  • Check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas
  • prevent neighbouring towns or cities from merging
  • Assist in safeguarding countryside from encroachment
  • Preserve natural setting and character of historic towns
  • Assist in urban regeneration > encourage recycling of derelict brownfield sites
• Examples of land uses in the green belt:

  • Footpaths
  • Low grade farmland
  • Mineral extraction
  • Building for farmland/ foresty
  • Windfarms
  • Allotments
  • School playing field
• Arguments for building on green belt sites:

  • 50,000 new homes needed in London > only half being met
  • ↑ family sizes > ↑ house sharing
  • Can't house workers > world city replaced
  • Not enough brownfield sites
  • Can't quantify how useful greenbelt sites are for the environment/ animals/ people
• Arguments against building on greenbelt sites:

  • Space can be used for exercise and positive mental health effects
  • Family space
  • ↑ air quality, less emissions from traffic
  • Lose farmland and history
• EXAMPLE of suburbanisation: Becontree:

  • The first and largest council estate in the UK
  • Part of the 'Homes fit for Heroes' scheme
  • Move people out of poverty and decrease slums
  • There was running water, indoor toilets and private gardens 'cottage gardens'
  • 'Living like kings'

  However, had to follow strict rules:

  1. No washing hung from windows
  2. Front gardens kept neat, hedges trimmed no bins out
  3. Children kept orderly
  4. Keep curtains clean
• EXAMPLE of suburbanisation: Becontree: 


  Developed the nickname 'Corned-Beef City':

  • due to the 'staple diet' of its 'poor residents'
  • social economic status of residents > bought cheap tinned beef instead of higher quality expensive meat
• EXAMPLE of suburbanisation: Becontree: 


  Recent changes:

  • Dozens of car lined pavements
  • Wheelie bins rest against front of garden walls
  • Satellite dishes on roof
  • Homes have sense of individuality > one coloured pink