Outline the factors that have contributed to the changes in industrial location in the United Kingdom. The meaning of this question is stating the cause that has helped change industrial location

Classical location theory (eg Weber) and its weaknesses when applied to modern manufacturing industry. Smith's concept of spatial margins.

Factors affecting present-day industrial location, concepts of optimal and non-optimal locations, behaviouralist and structuralist explanations. A number of case studies should be selected from examples of industries in LEDC's and MEDC's with broad range of structures and organisation.

Changes in the employment structure within the UK since 1945 and changes in the nature of employment. Rationalisation , the rise of tertiary employment and demographic changes in employment structures. Regional policies - central Scotland, NE England, S Wales and SE England. Effects of industrial change on the coalfields (S Wales and NE England).

The rise and decline of consumer industries in MEDCs. The rise of manufacturing in NICs, and the environmental impact of that growth. Industrial growth in Japan and SE Asia. Industrial growth in Eastern European countries.

The emergence of a new international division of labour.

Traditional heavy industry needed (generally) large amounts of flat land to provide accommodation huge furnaces and large equipment. Once an industrial unit was well-known, it was very hard for it to move, as, in heavy industry, industrial inertia is very high. Raw materials were essential in the location of traditional industry

There are physical factors which are affecting the location of the industry

These include: raw materials, energy and natural routes (site and land).

Also human and economic factors are affecting the location of industry. These include: labour supply, markets, transport, government policy and Capital (buying materials will help you to do your work).

Traditional industrial locations in the UK are:

• Central lowlands of Scotland
• Cumbria
• Lancashire
• North east England
• Yorkshire
• Derbyshire
• Nottinghamshire
• North Staffordshire
• East midlands
• West midlands
• London
• Bristol
• North Wales and South Wales.

But as time passed some of them are not traditional industrial locations in the UK. This is because there have been many changes as time passed. This is due to closure due to high expenditure of manufacture. Prologue of new machinery/new methods which means fewer workers are needed. This would fall into the technological category. Competition for opponent products, this would fall into the economic category.

The locations of industry today are:  

Central lowlands of Scotland, Belfast, Merseyside, South Wales, North east England, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Cambridge, East Anglia, London, Solent and M4 corridor.