Contemporary urban environment

• urbanisation

  increase of population living in a city or town
• counter-urbanisation

  movement from larger urban areas to small urban settlements and rural areas
• Suburbanisation


  decentralisation of people, jobs, and services towards edges of an urban area/suburbs
• urban resurgence

  movement from rural back to urban areas e.g young workers, university students
• causes of suburbanisation (4)

  -cheaper or bigger houses

  -increased working from home/work moving out of the city (business/science parks)

  -greenspace and reduced pollution

  -transport links improved
• What is Newcastle Great Park? (case study)

  Major housing and commercial development built on a greenbelt which government gave permission to built on
• Newcastle great park benefits (3)

  -2,500 new homes

  -80 hectares of commercial development creating many jobs

  -integrated transport plan inc bus and cycle lanes
• Newcastle great park negatives (3)

  -pricing of houses are beyond the average income of Newcastle residents

  -endangered red squirrels and deer populations affected

  -instead of using the greenbelt, there was more land on brownfield sites with more space for more houses
• What is the Suburbanisation case study?

  Los Angeles, California
• Los Angeles city status (3)

  -megacity (10+ mil)

  -world city

  -megalopolis (multiple city centres)
• Why did LA grow? (4)

  -rail networks, South Cali railway developed between San Francisco and all of the USA

  -Oil discovered in 1892 (now the dodgers baseball stadium)

  -water aqueducts developed between city and the Owen Mountains

  -Boom town of film industry (Hollywood), tourism, attractions over the 20th century
• Push factors of suburbanisation in LA (3)

  -congestion, smog (air pollution)

  -high rent and dense housing

  -declining jobs, mainly tertiary
• Pull factors of suburbanisation in LA (3)

  -cheaper and more land for larger and less expensive properties

  -safer neighbourhoods with better services

  -higher average incomes
• Environmental problems in LA (2 + expl)

  Urban Heat Island effect - disproportionate warmth in city compared to rural.

  Smog (smoke + fog) - causes health problems and major disruptions to the city.

  City located in a basin between the sea and high mountains. Cool air pushed into city from the sea, hot air sinks from above the city, high congestion and exhaust fumes and wild fires cover city in an inversion layer. Smog cant escape due to mountains surrounding.
• Economic consequences in LA (1P, 1N)

  -Businesses and services move out to follow workers to cheaper areas, leaving CBD suffering and declining

  +suburbs off less-skilled and more accessible jobs
• Social consequences in LA (1P, 1N)

  -increased cultural diversity with high Mexican population, African American, along with districts such as China Town and little Italy

  -Minorities left behind in city centre with high deprivation (white flight)
• Regeneration Case study?UK

  London Docklands, East London, around Newham and Tower Hamlets

  -former largest docks in the country and most active
• Reasons for decline in the Docklands (4)

  -containerisation - fewer dock workers needed

  -Thames becoming silted and inaccessible to large boats

  -General decline in manufacturing in the UK

  -low quality housing e.g tower blocks pushing people away
• Impacts of decline in Docklands (4)

  -Docklands closed in 1981 fully

  -30,000 jobs lost over this time

  -mass abandonment of buildings

  -lack of infrastructure e.g roads, railway, cable
• Company that regenerated the Docklands

  London Docklands Development Corporation
• Explain the Circle of poverty (5)

  ->high unemployment -> less money to spend on local goods and services -> less taxes and business rates paid to council -> council invests less in housing, roads, education -> young people leave school with fewer qualifications -> high unemployment
• LDDC aim 1

  Bring land and buildings back into use:

  -warehouses converted into apartments, office space, retail

  -derelict housing converted into new housing to encourage inward migration

  -kept history through the docks gateway restored, boat statues and cranes
• LDDC aim 2

  Attract business and investment:

  -London city airport providing jobs for docklands workers

  -over 700 new firms located in area

  -DLR overground increasing accessibility for commuters

  -near Canary wharf so attracted young skilled workers and businesses
• LDDC aim 3

  Ensure housing for all

  -95% of housing was rented

  -24,000 homes constructed
• LDDC aim 4

  Create an attractive environment:

  -expensive marble and trees make area luxury

  -water fountain made of marble and climate controlled

  -open and green spaces along with art, all highly maintained
• Docklands transport changes (2)

  -144km of new roads developed and improved

  -DLR overground constructed
• Docklands business impacts (3)

  -5 health centres

  -2700 businesses trading

  -85,000 workers in the Docklands area
• Docklands housing impacts (2)

  -24,000 new houses built

  -11 primary , 2 secondary, 3 colleges
• Successes of Docklands regeneration (4)

  -population increase of 49,000

  -2,500 companies operating in the area

  -DLR improving accessibility

  -London airport providing jobs
• Failures of Docklands regeneration (4)

  -LDDC expenditure on locals was 5% meaning all improvements not enjoyed by locals

  -increase in work was high-skilled or service sector

  -expensive housing not affordable to locals

  -area became gentrified and to expensive for locals to stay
• 4 stages of a megacity

  -immature (little/no planning, rapid sprawl e.g slums)

  -consolidating (some planning, self-improvement schemes for infrastructure)

  -maturing (effective attempts at housing, transport, services)

  -Established (stable governance, good quality of life, regenerated inner city)
• City Challenge 1993-1997 (3)

  -local authorities of run down areas would create plans for regeneration

  -winners for best project plan would receive grant for improvement

  -resources spread thinly but all improvements were specifically tailored
• New deals for communities 1997-2010 (3)

  -10 year program transforming 39 of most deprived neighbourhoods

  -aim to improve lives through services, education, physical environment

  -more positive change on physical are rather than quality of life e.g crime and education

  Example: Plymouth
• Urban Development Corporations 1979-1992- enterprise zones (3)

  -small concentrated areas regenerated by UDC's to attract business, investment and rebrand an area

  -created 190,000 jobs through businesses receiving cash grants for set up in area

  -did not tackle social issues, locals didn't benefit from housing or jobs

  Example: London Docklands
• Features of New urban landscapes (5)

  -High-Tech corridors e.g M4 corridor from London to South-Wales

  -Cultural/Heritage quarters e.g lace market, Manchester Northern

  -Fortress landscapes e.g cctv, gated community, speedbumps

  -Gentrified areas e.g middle class young workers multiplier effect

  -Edge city e.g outer suburbs with ample services, Bunkers hill Lincoln
• Urban Heat Island - cause and effect (UHI)

  An urban area with a significantly hotter micro-climate surrounded by cooler rural areas.

  -high air pollution from cars and poor insulation e.g heater, A.C

  -lower albedo (light reflection) meaning dark roads/building absorb heat

  -drains and sewers remove surface water quickly removing moisure from air
• Strategies to improve UHI effect (3)

  -cool surfaces that reflect suns radiation e.g white buildings in Greece

  -Green roofs absorb pollution, reduce flooding, cool buildings

  -urban trees absorb UV light, aesthetically pleasing, ease pollution
• UHI example city and management

  Chicago, Illinois

  -heat warnings and alerts

  -emergency cooling centres

  -green roofs and planted 500,000 trees over 15 years
• Characteristics of a post-modern city (4)

  -high-tech corridors

  -varied architecture style from different decades

  -many private services

  -high levels of social segregation/polarisation but also divesity
• Example and features of a post-modern city

  Las Vegas, Nevada

  -The strip is a long promenade of casinos and over the top decorations representing peak American consumerism

  -Service dominated area for tourists which drives economy

  -uncontrolled planning and building in the area

  -free tram from North Bellagio resort to South Monte Carlo resort

  -extremely high violent crime rates