The town of Exeter in Devon is a good example of this. If businesses and therefore people are to move to rural locations, communication needs to be good. The M5 allows quick access to Bristol, Birmingham etc. The A30 is also a very important link for businesses or commuters. Linking Exeter with Cornwall and more importantly London. Exeter also has it’s own airport which make the area accessible to a greater number of people. The British European airline employs over 500 people there, who assist on flights across Europe and occasionally transatlantic flights. Finally, railway linking to London gives important communication links to the capital and also allows commuting.
The environment is a very important factor for counterurbanisation to Devon. The Exeter area is covered in woodland and rolling agricultural land. The county of Devon as a whole also has two National Parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor. These draw people from all over Britain. Being near to the coast and having a river flowing through the centre means Exeter is perfectly located from water leisure activities. Exeter has 15 conservation areas and 1,600 listed buildings. Development in it’s centre is controlled because of it’ archaeological importance (one of only five in England and Wales). The Devon County Show is an annual agricultural event held just next to Exeter. The showground also hosts events such as pop concerts. This appeals to diverse groups and is a great draw fro the area.
If people have lived in the claustrophobic, polluted, hectic city for a long time, it’s appealing to move to somewhere like Exeter. With its beautiful scenery, calmer lifestyle and still access o work, it’s the perfect choice.
Thirdly, Exeter is becoming more attractive to businesses. In the 1970’s the London and Manchester Assurance Company moved to Clyst St. Mary’s. At first this split the village, however now the people are realising how beneficial it is to the economy. The Sowton Industrial Estate meant that more workers were drawn to Exeter and that there were lots of local jobs. Royal Mail, South West Electricity and many more are based there. Exeter University ensures large numbers of people keeping the area lively. This means there is no shortage of well educated employees, which in turn means thriving businesses and in turn a thriving area. In 2001 the Met office employees ad their families moved to Exeter. They chose the area because running costs were £5m a year less than in Bracknell. All the things previously talked about also played a part in choosing Exeter.
