Relocation, relocation ...

Phil and Kirstie do counterurbanisation... (in fact, a new series starts tomorrow night!)

Aims from today's lesson

•Be able to define counterurbanisation
•Know the difference between counterurbanisation and suburbanisation
•Understand the causes and consequences of changes over time in settlements at the rural-urban fringe.

Counterurbanisation is the process of migration of people from major urban areas into smaller settlements and rural areas.

It is different from suburbanisation because there is a distinct gap between the urban settlements and the settlement people move into.

Causes of counterurbanisation

1. Negative urban factors

~ air pollution, dirt, crime levels, high house prices etc

2. Positive rural factors

~ pleasant, clean environment with more space, access to countryside, 'lifestyle' (think Escape to the Country), possible lower house prices.

3. Socio-economic factors

~ greater affluence, greater car ownership, improved public services in rural areas and the decentralisation of jobs

4. Allowed / encouraged by

~ greater personal mobility, demand for second homes because of rising affluence, retirement, shorter working week, relative decline in agriculture leading to sale of farm buildings and land for building new homes.

Consequences of counterurbanisation

These can be both positive and negative and the consequences vary according to distance from the major urban settlement. Settlements at the rural-urban fringe tend to experience growth whilst more remote settlements tend to experience decline.

Effects on layout

~ modern housing estates built on edge of settlements

~ small industrial units built on main roads

~ open areas built on

~ old and agricultural properties converted / modernised

Effects on services

~ local services may close down, be altered or grow depending on location of the settlement.

Other effects

~ tension between locals and newcomers

~ house price increase (locals unable to afford higher prices)

~ newcomers have the wealth, mobility and desire to continue to use urban services so even in settlements where population is growing, services may still close

~ settlements become 'dormitory villages' - empty during the day when commuters are at work

Homework activities

Read 2 articles about the effects of second home ownership on rural settlements.

Answer the exam question (refer to the markscheme provided!) below: