Birmingham Case study Flashcards
(20 cards)
What are some positive impacts of migration in Birmingham?
Birmingham attracts a large number of well qualified people within the UK and overseas to work in the universities and finance sectors
Migrants often do jobs locals won’t do e.g. working in care homes
Migrants have bought skills worth £6.8 billion if they had been educated in the UK
Migration has increased cultural diversity. Birmingham celebrates a number of festivals including: the Christmas Market, St Patrick’s Day, Diwali and Chinese New year
What are some negative impacts of migration in Birmingham?
The migration of people within the UK can ‘water down’ the local accent and dialect
The formation of ethnic enclaves has left many feeling isolated from other communities
Social and racial tension caused by deprivation has led to race riots between the Asian and Black communities in Hansworth in 2005
Many muslims feel inflammatory reports linking Islam with terrorism had led to hostility. While many other people feel migration had increased terrorism
How is Cultural mix an opportunity in Birmingham?
Variety of food festivals, providing a vibrant atmosphere
Variety of religious celebrations, welcoming diversity
Celebrates Birmingham’s cultural diversity
Very ethnically diverse population (48.6% asian)
Very religiously diverse population: 30% Muslim, 34% Christian and 2% other
How does recreation and entertainment create opportunities in Birmingham?
There is a city centre museum and art gallery that house over 2000 exhibits
Hippodrome is the most visited theatre in the UK
Wide variety of music venues such as the Genting Arena, HMV institute, O2 academy and the NEC
Hosts topflight football teams such as Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City
Edgbaston hosts the Ashes
Broadstreet and Brindley Place host nightlife
Michelin starred restaurants
Bullring is one of the largest shopping centres in the UK
Selfridges welcomes 50 million customers anually
How does employment and education create opportunities in Birmingham?
5 Universities with over 50,000 students
Outstanding education in both the UK and globally
Part of the Russel Group (University of Birmingham)
Provides a big source of income and employment for the city
The Biohub, is an example of employment opportunities
Birmingham had the largest number of business start ups outside of London
How do integrated transport systems create opportunities in Birmingham?
Birmingham New Street - a major train station linking trains from all over the country, the midlands’ metro l, Birmingham international Airport and will link with HS2
Birmingham international airport - Daily flights to America, UAE, China, India and many European destinations
How does Urban Greening pose opportunities in Birmingham?
Birmingham is one of the greenest cities in Europe
Over 500 parks and local spaces
Has botanical gardens
3rd greenest city in the UK
Birmingham council has proposed a green vision for Birmingham, to aim to improve green spaces, cycling routes, greenifying the city centre and 4 other areas by 3040
How is urban deprivation a socio- economic challenge in Birmingham?
Birmingham is the 3rd most deprived city in the UK with particularly high unemployment rates
How are inequalities in housing a socio- economic challenge in Birmingham?
In many parts of the city, houses are overcrowded
people are paying high rents for poor quality buildings often with damp
How is education a socio- economic challenge in Birmingham?
Education varies greatly across Birmingham
In Spark Hill, only 18% of people have 5+ GCSEs compared to 52% in Edgbaston
This makes it harder for people in Spark Hill to find good jobs causing negative impacts in other aspects of their life
How is health a socio- economic challenge in Birmingham?
As the UK has the NHS, variations are small, but some areas see an increase in depression due to high unemployment or breathing related illness due to damp housing
How is employment a socio- economic challenge in Birmingham?
Employment varies across the city
Aston had an unemployment rate of 10% compared to Hall Green’s 0.05%
This means people cannot afford good housing, enough food etc.
How does dereliction pose environmental challenge in Birmingham?
It is usually abandoned buildings often with smashed windows, graffiti and plants and trees growing out of them
This detracts the aesthetic appeal of the city and makes it less desirable for residents and people
How does building on brownfield vs greenfield pose environmental challenge in Birmingham?
Brownfield - land that had previously been developed (e.g. Brindley Place)
Greenfield - land that has never been developed (e.g. NEC)
Building on greenfield results in the loss of green space
Whereas building on brownfield will improve a derelict site
How does waste disposal pose environmental challenge in Birmingham?
a large urban population produces a lot of household and commercial waste which creates challenge for how to manage and dispose of it
How does urban sprawl pose environmental challenge in Birmingham?
Urban sprawl - the expansion of the city into rural areas
Causes a loss of green land, increased congestion, increased pollution, increased demand for education and healthcare, overpopulation and unemployment
How does growth of commuter settlements pose environmental challenge in Birmingham?
Commuter settlements - towns and villages where people travel to work from
Can lead to increased traffic
can lead to loss of services in towns where people live but don’t spend any time in
Birmingham’s biggest commuter settlements are Solihull, Sandwell and Bromsgrove
What are the impacts of the redevelopment of Bull Ring (2003)?
Old Bull ring was ugly and unpopular. Shops were moving to out of town shopping centres
New Bullring was designed as an ‘iconic building’ (Guggenheim effect)
Very successful retail development
Cost £530 million but created 8000 jobs
1000’s of new carpark spaces added to the city and it attracted many chain shops back to the city centre
What are the impacts of New Street Station’s redevelopment?
The old train station was considered ugly and an unsightly arrival to the city. It reminded people of Birmingham’s past
The redevelopment of New Street created:
It created more accessible, brighter and clearer platforms, reached by new escalators and public lifts
It created a stunning new station exterior, adding to Birmingham’s growing reputation for good design
It created better links to and through the station for pedestrians with eight entrances
It improved the arrival to the city from London or the airport, helping to improve Birmingham’s image and encourage more investment from businesses e.g. HSBC
The knock on effect will create 30,000 jobs and bring an extra £2 billion to the local economy
