Rural change in Developed Countries (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

• In developed countries rural change has occurred as a result of: 
  • Depopulation
  • Tourism
  • Counter-urbanisation
  • Suburbanisation
• In the UK 19% of people live in rural areas
• Rural areas are defined as areas with a population of less than 10,000

Depopulation 

• A decrease in the rural population
• Most common in the remote, less accessible rural areas due to:
  • Mechanisation of agricultural which has meant decreasing availability of jobs
  • The younger generation leaving to gain a wider variety of opportunities 
  • As more people leave rural services decline with the closure of schools, shops and post offices
  • Rural isolation due to poor transport and communication links
  • Low wages

Negative Multiplier Effect

• Depopulation leads to a spiral of decline which it is difficult to stop or reverse

Negative Multiplier Effect

Western Isles

• Areas experiencing depopulation in the UK include the Western Isles, Scotland:
  • The population have decreased by over 50% in the last 100 years
• Impacts include:
  • School closures due to fewer children
  • An ageing population require higher amounts of social care, which will have social and economic impacts
  • Further decline in the fishing and farming industry as younger generation choose better paid jobs and the ageing population retires
  • Maintaining transport services for the smaller population is not cost effective
  • Tourism is increasingly important but the infrastructure is not suited to large numbers of visitors
  • Abandoned crofts and land

• Many rural areas in the UK have experienced a growth in tourism and leisure
• People in developed countries have more disposable income and spare time to spend on leisure activities
• Tourism is often focused on honeypots
• Tourism and leisure need to be managed to ensure they are sustainable

Lake District 

• Designated a National Park in 1952
• Over 15 million tourists visit the National Park each year
• In 2017 it was awarded World Heritage Site status
• The population is about 41,000

Tourism Pressures

Issue	Pressure on Rural Environment	Management to reduce Pressure
Transport	Many visitors travel by car  The rural roads are narrow Leads to congestion and air pollution Not enough parking available	'Drive Less, See More' initiative to connect public transport Increased parking facilities Park and Ride schemes in Wasdale
Housing	Increase in second homes - 50% of houses in Keswick are holiday lets or second homes Increase in house prices due to the demand average price in Keswick is £370,000 Local people cannot afford to buy homes	New low cost homes are built which can only be purchased by local people who work in the area New bill to increase the amount of council tax paid by second homeowners Planning restrictions stating that houses have to be permanently occupied
Employment	Many jobs are in primary economic activities or tourism These jobs are often low paid and/or seasonal	Improvements in connectivity to the internet Encourage new businesses to locate in the Lake District through the use of development grants
Environment	Footpath erosion on the fells due to the sheer numbers of walkers Litter  Disturbing livestock and damaging crops Erosion of the lake banks Destruction of habitats	'Fix the Fells' and National Park Authority working to repair the footpaths Additional bins Posters to encourage people to keep dogs on leads and close gates Speed limits on the lakes

Suburbanisation

• Rural spaces (greenfield sites) on the edge of towns and cities are being built on as the urban areas grow
• New homes in large housing estates are the main land use
• Population also require schools, shops, healthcare centres
• New roads - ring roads and bypasses are built to increase accessibility 
• Industrial estates, businesses and retail parks also move to the area attracted by:
  • Lots of customers and workers nearby
  • More space for expansion, large stores and car parking
  • Cheap land
  • More attractive environment

Counter-urbanisation in St Ives, Cambridgeshire

• In some areas rural settlements are growing as people move to smaller settlements from towns and cities
• St Ives is within a one-hour train journey of London and is also close to Cambridge
• People moving to the area are:
  • Young families with children
  • Professionals with high-paying jobs 
• Pull factors of the area:
  • Larger houses for less money than in London
  • Gardens and more open space
  • Less crime
  • Lower pollution levels
  • Attractive environment

Issues	Impact
Transport	Increased commuters lead to more traffic and congestion
Housing	Increase in house prices as people moving in can afford more  Young locals cannot afford house prices  Demand means more houses are built Older housing is renovated and extended
Environment	Increased traffic leads to more air pollution Building on greenfield sites
Services	Greater numbers of people so may keep healthcare and schools open
Community	Communities can become divided into new residents and old locals - conflicts can occur with disagreements about new developments