Section A: Urban issues and challenges
Birmingham, United Kingdom:
Location and City’s Importance:
• Birmingham is a city in the Nationally: There are over 60000
West Midlands of England. students. It is the youngest city in Europe.
• Birmingham is often referred to In the top 15 places in Europe to locate a
as England’s ‘second city’ as it is business. Over 200 law firms. Employers
the second largest city in the UK such as BBC, Atkins, E.ON, Fujitsu and
by population. Jaguar Land Rover. Very well connected by
• Urbanisation has caused rapid rail – New Street is the busiest station
population growth in Birmingham outside London.
since the industrial revolution.
Internationally: Over 300 organisations
• It is located in the centre of
based outside the UK have operations in
England which made it ideally
Birmingham. Nearly 35 million people
located to transport goods
visited Birmingham in 2015, bringing in
around the UK.
over £35 billion Birmingham has an
international airport which has over 9
Migration to
Birmingham is one of the most culturally diverse City’s Importance:
cities on the UK. In the 2015 the city had a Social: 5 universities and over 60000
population of 1.1 million drawn from 187 nations. students provide high level education.
As well as international migration, Birmingham has Birmingham has city centre museums and
the highest proportion of migrants from other parts art galleries with 2000+ exhibits. The
of the UK. Birmingham Hippodrome is the most visited
There are a wide range of socio-cultural and theatre in the UK. Old industries such as the
recreational/entertainment opportunities. Custard Factory which has been
Birmingham has a long history of welcoming regenerated.
migrants from overseas. Economic: The Bull Ring shopping Centre
Many Polish workers arrived during the 2nd world is one of the largest in the UK and is home
war. Post war many people moved to Birmingham to all of the major department stalls.
from Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean Birmingham has the largest number of new
and the Indian sub-continent. More recently, the business start ups outside of London. Many
city has seen economic migrants from the European international companies have operation in
Union. Birmingham.
Migration has given the city a rich cultural heritage Environmental: Urban greening is
and has seen the development of successful multi- creating and maintaining green space in
urban areas. In order to increase the
amount of green space in Birmingham a
plan is in place. To achieve a greener city:
Grand Central City’s Importance:
trees are being planted; development of
Why regeneration was needed: The New Street Social: Migration has led to pockets of the
Train Station which is connected to Grand Central city where people from different ethnic
was once voted the ugliest train station in the UK. backgrounds tend to live. This can cause
170,000 passengers a day use Birmingham New social tension. Another issue is urban
Street, nearly triple the 60,000 a day it was deprivation due to areas being
designed for when it was last rebuilt in the 1960s. impoverished from the decline of industry.
New Street is the busiest station outside London,
Economic: An example of an economic
with a train leaving every 37 seconds. The old train
Birmingham, United Kingdom:
Location and City’s Importance:
• Birmingham is a city in the Nationally: There are over 60000
West Midlands of England. students. It is the youngest city in Europe.
• Birmingham is often referred to In the top 15 places in Europe to locate a
as England’s ‘second city’ as it is business. Over 200 law firms. Employers
the second largest city in the UK such as BBC, Atkins, E.ON, Fujitsu and
by population. Jaguar Land Rover. Very well connected by
• Urbanisation has caused rapid rail – New Street is the busiest station
population growth in Birmingham outside London.
since the industrial revolution.
Internationally: Over 300 organisations
• It is located in the centre of
based outside the UK have operations in
England which made it ideally
Birmingham. Nearly 35 million people
located to transport goods
visited Birmingham in 2015, bringing in
around the UK.
over £35 billion Birmingham has an
international airport which has over 9
Migration to
Birmingham is one of the most culturally diverse City’s Importance:
cities on the UK. In the 2015 the city had a Social: 5 universities and over 60000
population of 1.1 million drawn from 187 nations. students provide high level education.
As well as international migration, Birmingham has Birmingham has city centre museums and
the highest proportion of migrants from other parts art galleries with 2000+ exhibits. The
of the UK. Birmingham Hippodrome is the most visited
There are a wide range of socio-cultural and theatre in the UK. Old industries such as the
recreational/entertainment opportunities. Custard Factory which has been
Birmingham has a long history of welcoming regenerated.
migrants from overseas. Economic: The Bull Ring shopping Centre
Many Polish workers arrived during the 2nd world is one of the largest in the UK and is home
war. Post war many people moved to Birmingham to all of the major department stalls.
from Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean Birmingham has the largest number of new
and the Indian sub-continent. More recently, the business start ups outside of London. Many
city has seen economic migrants from the European international companies have operation in
Union. Birmingham.
Migration has given the city a rich cultural heritage Environmental: Urban greening is
and has seen the development of successful multi- creating and maintaining green space in
urban areas. In order to increase the
amount of green space in Birmingham a
plan is in place. To achieve a greener city:
Grand Central City’s Importance:
trees are being planted; development of
Why regeneration was needed: The New Street Social: Migration has led to pockets of the
Train Station which is connected to Grand Central city where people from different ethnic
was once voted the ugliest train station in the UK. backgrounds tend to live. This can cause
170,000 passengers a day use Birmingham New social tension. Another issue is urban
Street, nearly triple the 60,000 a day it was deprivation due to areas being
designed for when it was last rebuilt in the 1960s. impoverished from the decline of industry.
New Street is the busiest station outside London,
Economic: An example of an economic
with a train leaving every 37 seconds. The old train
