A Little Experiment!

Counter-urbanisation Aims What are the causes of counter- urbanisation? Think, Pair Share what does this term mean?

1. What is it ? The process of people moving away from urban areas to smaller settlements and rural areas. Leads to the growth of rural areas beyond the city. The boundary between rural and urban becomes less obvious as more people become involved in counter urbanisation. Depopulation of major urban areas to small areas.

2. Who is involved ? Affluent people moving of their own accord. Young Professionals Middle Class Families Young Families Existing Rural Dwellers

3. What has caused counter urbanisation? Negative reaction to city life Many people want to move away from the city life e.g. pollution and the problems associated with it. Aspirations of a quiet country life Land and House prices are cheaper in rural areas Higher personal car ownership and increase in public transport have allowed access to the area in a easier way. Between 1981 – 1996 rural areas gained a million jobs due to an increase in technology allowing industries to locate in these areas. The rising demand for second homes and earlier retirement has increased the movement of people from the city to the countryside. Improved road systems and increased car ownership. The rural idyll – perfection – ideal place to live! Filtering –the process by which social groups move out of a designated area, which often changes the social nature of the area. Eg from ghettos

4. Push Factors from the city Increasing house prices Crime Rates Traffic congestion Air pollution Social Changes “The urban nightmare”

5. Effects on Rural Areas Small industrial units are being sited on the main roads leading into the settlement. Young can not afford to buy in the village. This causes resentment. Another problem that occurs is that new comers may not appreciate the traditional values of village life. The spread of the rural urban fringe. Modern housing estates are built on the edges of settlements Former green land sites are built on Old properties are converted and modernised GGAjQ

6. Effects on the Inner City The people who leave the inner city tend to be qualified and skilled. (filtering) This leaves behind an untrained workforce. They are usually home owners People left behind are usually working class, semi skilled. Population decline means that the city loses out on local taxation revenue e.g. council tax. This means less funds for the key facilities decrease.

7. Counter-urbanisation of Cardiff Cardiff docks reached their peak in 1913 exporting 13.5 million tonnes of coal. This dropped rapidly after WWII. Coupled with the closure of the East Moor Steelworks unemployment rose. Low income, racial prejudice and ageing housing stock lead to the bay area becoming a Zone of Discard. By the 1970’s and early 1980’s the outward movement from the Bay area lead to the suburbanisation at the urban-rural fringe. Beyond the fringe, in accessible, attractive rural settlements, these urban “refugees” bought homes and became commuters. Suburbanised villages emerged.

8. Suburbanisation of Llantwit Major in the Vale of Glamorgan Llantwit Major has seen significant suburbanisation since the 1970’s. this corresponds with an era of counter-urbanisation in the nearby Capital city. It is possible to identify the original core on an O.S. map by:- O.S. map The convergence of original roads and lanes Historic building such as churches and ruins The more formal layout of roads and housing in the modern suburbs.

What is suburbanisation? It is the movement of people from the inner-city areas to the suburbs of towns and cities leading to the growth of the suburbs and the extension of the urban area In the UK this process began in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Towns and cities really began to spread out in the 1960s

Can you identify the original core?

1897

Historic Buildings in the original village core. St. Illtuds churchRuined Manor house, Llantwit Place

Why did the commuters come to Llantwit Major Census data since 1961 shows a steady increase in the percentage of people employed in management and professional roles. These commuters chose Llantwit Major probably because of its: 1.Accessibility to Cardiff thanks to the A48 and M4. Bridgend and Cowbridge are easy to get to. 2.Good range of services including schools, retailing, health and leisure. 3.Availability of new housing and renovated character properties. 4.Attractive townscape and local environment. Llantwit Major is only 1 mile from the Glamorgan Heritage Coast and has many sites of historic interest.

A. Accessibility What does Right move say? SITUATION The M4 Motorway is approximately 9 miles distance and Cardiff Wales Airport approximately 7 miles to the east. The railway station in Llantwit serves Cardiff and Bridgend with onward journeys to London. Homework – find out car, bus and train times to Cardiff.

B. Services and facilities Llantwit Major now boasts: A Leisure Centre Two Supermarkets Several Primary and a Comprehensive Schools A Doctors Surgery Library

C. Available housing Many former barns have been converted since the 1980’s in the old core of Llantwit Major.

C. Available housing Many of today’s most desirable homes have humble origins as the original dwellings of rural people. West Farm Huntsman’s Cottage The Old Malthouse

C. Available housing Expensive, modern, planned estates cater for the majority of newcomers to Llantwit Major. St Illtyds Court 190,000 for 2 bed apartments = new

D. Attractive local environment The Glamorgan Heritage Coast with its excellent 17-mile run of coastal footpaths and high quality cliff scenery is approximately 2 miles to the south.

Suburbanisation in other areas of the Vale of Glamorgan Cowbridge is actually more accessible and arguably has a better townscape than Llantwit. But reduced housing availability has restricted growth. St. Donats just to west of Llantwit has not grown significantly because of poorer access, less services and restricted housing availability. St. Athan’s military reputation and closeness to heavy industry has perhaps made this less attractive to commuters. St. Hilary has all the necessary qualities commuters desire but strict planning controls on housing development has limited its growth.

Sketch Map of Vale of Glamorgan Commuter Settlements Bridgend Cardiff Barry Llantwit Major Cowbridge St. Athan St. Hilary St. Donats B4265 B4270 A48 Llandow Industrial Estate

Increasing employment opportunities near Llantwit Major Llandow Industrial Estate is approximately 3 km north of Llantwit Major and provides increasing numbers of employment opportunities for the Vale of Glamorgan. It is built on a Brownfield site utilizing roads and hangars from a WWII air base. It comprises of a trading, business and retail units.

Llandow Trading Estate This shows the former air traffic control tower converted to the site office.

Llandow Business Park The large Weaver’s Ford dealership can be seen in the background

Llandow Retail Estate This shows one of the several air craft hangars that has been converted to business use at Llandow Industrial Estate

Attraction of Llandow Industrial Estate for businesses Access is good. The A48 is 3 km away which then allows good access to the M4 corridor. Brownfield site status means planning controls are more relaxed and land is probably cheaper compared to urban locations. A large pool of labour and is accessible in nearby Llantwit Major and Cowbridge. Its rural location provides a more pleasant working environment. Essential services are already in place. Businesses such as Topps Tiles and Nathaniel Cars are located at this site.

How has Llantwit major changed? In 1961 Llantwit Major had a population of 4,243. By 2011 it has a population of 9,486. Households in 1961 were 1,256 Households in 2011 equal 4,038 There are 5444 cars or vans in the area and the majority f people in the area(4,779 of 6,972 economically active) work. This is another way the social and cultural make up of areas can vary.

Dissatisfaction with Counter Urbanisation This could be due to journey times or a preference for city life. They move back to the city Developers are providing measures to deal with problems in inner cities, Security, Town houses etc. Environmental concern about urban sprawl means people are moving back to the city.

Next, we will be studying inner city decline and regeneration in the London Docklands area KQ2.3 and you will be able to use this same information/case study to explain why re-urbanisation occurs with reference to an example.