CSMP-Birmingham CS Flashcards
1
Q
What is a conurbation?
A
A large urban area in population and areal terms, made from the merging of previously separated towns
2
Q
Where is Birmingham located?
A
-Birmingham is a large metropolitan region at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation
-South west of Liverpool
3
Q
What is the demography of Birmingham?
A
- Rapid population growth in 1700s due to rural to urban migration for factory work
- 50s/60s saw significant international migration from Caribbean and SE. Asia, leading to the opening of mosques, international supermarkets, the Balti triangle etc.
- Youthful population with 38% aged 24 or younger in 2014
- Many students (approximately 50,000) (knowledge economy)
4
Q
What are the socio-economic conditions of birmingham?
A
- 1700-1900: increasing middle class population meant areas of the city related to class status
- 50% employed in metalworking in 20th century
- Unemployment less than 1% during the 50s and 60s
- By 1982 unemployment was 19.4% with income falling from amongst the highest to the lowest in UK
- 1999 NDCs scheme led to broadband in the deprived inner city and work experience programmes set up to improve unemployment levels
- The £700 million investment in New Street Station created 1000 jobs
- Student population increases spending and creates a youthful workforce
5
Q
What are the economic change of birmingham?
A
- Pre-industrial: Small metal working industry, agriculture
- Industrial Revolution: 15,000 population by 1700 with 1st factory in world built in 1761, with gun, jewellery and brass industries dominating
- 20th century: 50% of employment in metalworking and vehicle manufacturing eg. Austin, Dunlop
- 70s: Recession caused by increased competition from TNCs and union strikes led to less investment and fewer jobs
- 2000: Percentage working in finance/business rose by 14% from 1978 and proportion in metalworking/vehicles fell by 22.6%
- Economy has transitioned from being heavily dominated by industry to the majority of people working in the tertiary and quaternary sectors
6
Q
What is infrastructure like in birmingham?
A
- Industrial revolution saw the building of the London-Birmingham railway and the national canal network (Birmingham is the hub)
- Increasing middle classes living in suburbs throughout the 20th century led to trams and buses
- HS2 link being built in 21st century to connect London to the North
- Hub of the national motorway network
- New street station was refurbished to stimulate economic growth: passenger numbers have increased from 170,000 to 240,000+ a day - now linked to Bullring shopping centre
7
Q
What is the environment/buildings like in Birmingham?
A
- Pre-industrial: half a dozen streets focused on parish church
- Terraced houses were squeezed between factories in inner city (high-density, poor quality, polluted)
- Suburbs in 20th century were mainly semi-detached or council estates
- In WW2 houses were bombed so from 1945-70 over 80,000 new homes were built including 400 tower blocks replacing slums
- Fewer people living in inner city (commuters from suburbs)
- Green belt around city means adjacent land value has increased
- £235 million EU grant has been used to improve social housing in the city
8
Q
What is the role of government in Birmingham?
A
- Promotes the city to attract inward investment through projects such as NEC and airport expansion
- 1999 NDCs scheme provided inner city broadband and regenerated old industrial areas
- City council promote internationally w/ £235 million EU grant
9
Q
What is the role of transport in Birmingham?
A
- £700 million investment in New Street Station created the Grand Central area creating 1000 jobs in offices, shops and restaurants
- HS2 rail link to London (£20 billion) involves TNCs, banks, community groups, NGOs and gov. with the aim to increase investment by cutting journey time to just 50 minutes
- Birmingham is the hub of the national motorway network
10
Q
What is the role of planning in Birmingham?
A
- Public spaces developed in the centre, with town hall and bullring refurbished to attract visitors
- ICC and Symphony hall opened in 1991, benefiting local hotels etc.
- Student population of 50,000 employs many and provides a market for goods/services as well as attracting businesses which hire graduates
- City centre pedestrianised and canals revitalised by government, private sector and the Canal and River Trust
11
Q
What are the cultural characteristics of Birmingham during the 1900 to 1950s?
A
-Population was overwhelmingly white in ethnic origin
