How can urban transport strategies reduce traffic congestion?
- Urban transport strategies focus on getting people out of their cars and on to public transport e.g. buses, the underground
- These modes of transport move large numbers of people around efficiently and have less impact on the environment than cars.
London location
London is in the northern hemisphere, in NW Europe. London in SE England, on the River Thames.
what is causing the growth of London’s population?
Although internal migration is negative (50,000 or 25% more leave than enter), international migration is causing London’s population to grow. Natural increase is also causing London’s population to grow.
Why is London important nationally?
London produces 22% of the UK’s GDP; this money is spent elsewhere in the UK; London also provides jobs for 800,000 people who commute into the city.
Why is London important internationally?
London is a global or world city - a globally important centre. 40 Higher Education institutions are located here - people come from all over the world to study in London.
impacts of internal migration
Internal migrants are mostly aged 25-44 - London is a magnet particularly for 20-29 years olds (in 2015, 113,000 people of this age moved to London). This has changed the character of some areas, lowering the demographic, and making the area more creative e.g. Tech City in Shoreditch.
impacts of international migration
- International migration has made London more ethnically diverse
- Cultural events such as the Notting Hill Carnival take place
- Londoners are generally very open-minded people.
social opportunties
- Cultural mix - populations that come from every part of the world.
- Leisure and recreation
- Integrated transport network
economic opportunites
Employment - London generates approximately 22% of the UK’s
GDP, the largest regional share. The economy of London is
different to that of the rest of the UK. It is dominated by financial
and insurance activities, mainly located in the City of London.
environmental opportunities
Urban greening - a process whereby the amount of green space within a city is increased.
social challenges
Urban deprivation - indicated by the built environment and life expectancy.
Inequalities in housing, education and health - London is more unequal than any other region of the UK.
economic challenges
Inequalities in employment - the number of low paid jobs in the capital has risen for the past 5 years and now stands at nearly 700,000. They pay less than the London Living wage (£10.75). The top tenth of employees in London earn around four times as much as the bottom tenth.
environmental challenges
Building on brownfield and greenfield sites; building on greenfield sites leads to urban sprawl. To protect undeveloped sites, a green belt can be used.
Air pollution - 4,000 premature deaths per year
Waste disposal - Just over 60% is recycled; one quarter still goes to landfill.
impact of urban sprawl
London: Increased traffic (commuters), environmental issues, health issues, economic impacts.
St. Ives, Cambridge: Population growth and altered population structure, increased house prices, increased flood risk.
regeneration
The revival of old parts of the built-up area by either installing modern facilities in old buildings (known as renewal) or opting for redevelopment (i.e. demolishing existing buildings and starting afresh
why did the london docklands need regenerating?
- An increase in the size of the ships, coupled with the silting up of the Thames, meant that the Docklands became difficult to access.
- In addition to this, new, more efficient docks were developed downstream at Tilbury, taking trade away from the Docklands.
main features of the regeneration of the London docklands
- £10 million was spent on housing and 22,000 new homes were built.
- The environment was improved significantly, with 130,000 hectares of open space created and 160,000 trees planted.
- Financial and high-tech firms such as the Stock Exchange and ITV studios moved in, and between 1981 and 1996, businesses increased from 1000 to 2,400.
- the transport was improved; the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) connects the area to the Underground, and international visitors can arrive at City Airport.
impacts of regeneration of the London docklands
-The area has been transformed and because of Canary Wharf, a secondary CBD after the City, London has become an ‘Alpha ++ world city.
-However, a lot of the new housing is far too expensive
for locals, resulting in breakdown in the traditional Eastend community.
sustainable city
- An urban area where residents have a way of life that will last into the future.
- Social, economic and environmental sustainability are considered.
How is East Village sustainable?
- The East Village in Stratford, east London is sustainable because the development (the former Athlete’s Village for the 2012 Olympics) has 1,379 affordable houses.
- It also has independent shops, bars and restaurants meeting the needs of the resident, plus 10 hectares of green open space, a school and health clinic.
