Urbanization in Gloucester (MEDC) Case Study

By 1930 an electric tram system was built in order to serve the growing number of homes being built on the edge of the city.

In 1940 the city growth came to a halt and all resources were channeled into the war. The city’s industrial center was bombed and completely destroyed. Growth eventually resumed in the 1950s and vast housing estates were built on the outskirts of the city, cost effective housing that was quick and easy to construct. The city continued to grow outwards. However it was beginning to consume vast amounts of land for its urban developments. So in the 1960s there came a new approach. The city began growing upwards. 20 story tower blocks were constructed on the outskirts of the city, enabling more people to live on a smaller area of land at a cheaper cost. In the 1970 the same idea was applied to the city center. The Victorian terrace houses that were homes to the factory workers were demolished and were replaced by blocks of flats and the old factories replaced by modern office blocks. The city center was now growing upwards. By the 1980s the city grew tired from living in tower blocks and now wanted affordable modern houses with their own small plot of land. The 1980s housing estate era had now begun. Greenfield sites on the outskirts had now been transformed into housing estates. The houses were small and practical, first time buyers purchased many of which. The city had continuing growing outwards for the next decade.

In the 1990s the city planners introduced a new policy of urban regeneration. The city’s brownfield sites were redeveloped. Old factories and warehouses were converted into luxury flats. Other factory sites were turned into temporary housing and leisure facilities.

During the last 5 years the city had continued to re-generate its brownfield sites but the pressure to build on the Greenfield sites is continuingly increasing so it is very likely that over time the city will continue growing outwards.

Overview: what caused city growth in Gloucester?

• Blacksmiths took advantage of the busy east road and built workshops there
• In the 1800s the industrial revolution came and the small workshops were turned into factories
• With the constant need for a supply of coal a network of canals was built in order to supply the factories
• As more and more factory workers moved into the city the need for accommodation increases and so small terrace houses were built
• Large houses were also in the west side of town built for the wealthy factory owners
• A horse driven tram system was introduced in order to transport workers to the city center
• The horse driven tram system was upgraded to an electrical one
• The war temporarily stopped city growth as supplies needed to be used in the war
• City began growing upwards on the outskirts in order to house more people while using less land and saving money
• City began growing upwards in the center
• People grew tired of the tower blocks and wanted small affordable homes, the 1980s estate era began
• Brownfield sites were turned into new homes, old factories and warehouses turned into luxury flats and leisure facilities
• The city is continuing growing outwards

Urbanization in South Africa (LEDC) Case Study

Why do young people move from the rural areas to the cities?

Push factors from rural areas

• Rural life provides few basic services
• People need to collect drinking water from a well
• There may be little sanitation
• No electricity
• People make a living from farming but droughts and crop failures can damage their livelihoods and push them into poverty
• Agricultural life is physically demanding, people have to work long hours for little pay
• There are few jobs outside of farming
• Unemployment can be a problem
• There is little to occupy young people besides village life

Pull factors to the city

• The prospect of higher employment and wealth
• Better services such as piped water supply, sanitation and healthcare
• Living in a city means that you are usually cushioned from the effects of drought and crop failure.
• Prospect of a wider range of jobs, not just farming