Slow Population Growth And Variations In Population Structure - North Antrim Coast

Question 1

What are some special features of the North Antrim Coast that make it a popular tourist destination?

Answer 1

• AONB since 1988
• Giants Causeway UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Game of Thrones filmed in Ballintoy
• Bushmills (whiskey) and Royal Portrush (Golf Open)

Question 2

How does accessibility affect the population structure?

Consider North Antrim Coast, Slough and Belfast

Answer 2

• Young people move away for university/ work/ social opportunities which creates an echo of fewer newborns being born
• Belfast- M1/2/3 coincide so lack of young adults
• North Antrim Coast- A26 dual carriageway between Belfast and North Antrim Coast encourages 2nd home ownership.
• Slough- proximity to Heathrow, M4/ M25 causes more families to settle down (on commuter belt)

Question 3

How does physical geography affect the population structure?

Answer 3

• Retired people sometimes move to the coast for views,
  lifestyle, perceived quieter community and milder climate, and perception of cheaper property prices outside large cities, or downsizing, so many may be able to afford a suitable property. ( rural idyll)
• North Antrim Coast is rugged and more mountainous which create landscape for filming/ history/ preservation
• Belfast is a coastal city with enables lots of marine engineering (e.g. Titanic) and aerospace engineering ( Bombardier Aerospace)

Question 4

How does planning and development affect the population structure within the North Antrim Coast?

Answer 4

• Developers target the older market e.g. numerous 2 bedroom, apartments and retirement complexes (particularly in rural and semi-rural locations)
• But: the Causeway Coast limits planning, but there is lots of
  space for large houses

Question 5

Who are the type of people living in North Antrim Coast?

Consider DWAGES

Answer 5

• Affluent upper class - have 2nd home ownership

- Retirees that want to experience the rural idyll

Question 6

How does being on the commuter belt in the rural- urban continuum affect population structure?

Answer 6

• counterurbanisation has led to dormitory Townes, access for workers/commuters to get to the urban area

Question 7

How does being in accessible countryside along the rural-urban continuum affect the population structure?

Answer 7

• beyond commuter belt
• suburbanised villages
• middle class residents
• farmers sell land for 2nd homes

Question 8

How does being in remote countryside in the rural-urban continuum affect the population structure?

Answer 8

• older/upper class primarily for leisure and recreation
• poor road access
• mechanisation of agriculture= unemployment
• rural deployment/ RUM/ reurbansation

Question 9

How does being in the urban fringe affect population structure?

Answer 9

• younger population ( young adults) move for university/ social opportunities/ jobs
• reurbanisation