How has urban change created challenges in Birmingham?

Which areas have declined and why?

Birmingham’s inner city has seen some of the most significant changes and challenges. Between 1951 and 1971, over 500,000 people left the inner city. This occurred due to factors such as slum clearance, rebuilding, transportation changes, and job losses.

Slum Clearance and Redevelopment

In the 1950s, much of Birmingham’s inner city consisted of old, poor-quality housing built in the 1800s. Many homes had no hot water or indoor toilets. Over 70% were unfit to live in. The area also had many small polluting factories and very little green space.

To improve the area, whole neighbourhoods were demolished and replaced with modern tower blocks that featured amenities like central heating. These areas were called Comprehensive Redevelopment Areas. More parks and open spaces were also added.

However, after this change, many people moved to the suburbs (the outer parts of the city) and did not return, resulting in a decline in the inner city population.

Transport Changes

In the 1970s, Birmingham built an inner ring road to help with traffic. However, to build it, old homes and factories had to be demolished. Some factories closed permanently, while others moved out of the city. Better transport also meant people could live further away from work, causing more people to leave the inner city.

Job Losses and De-Industrialisation

Between 1961 and 1971, Birmingham lost approximately 50,000 jobs, particularly in the manufacturing sector, which involves producing goods in factories. Many factories were small, old, and could not compete with newer ones elsewhere or with cheaper goods from other countries.

This process is called de-industrialisation. It led to rising unemployment and a decrease in spending, resulting in the closure of shops in inner-city areas.

Economic Decline in the Inner City

Birmingham’s inner city struggled because:

• Factories and shops closed.
• There was no space to grow.
• Buildings were old and falling apart.
• Roads were too narrow for modern traffic.
• Many businesses relocated to the edges of the city, known as the rural-urban fringe.
• Imports from abroad harmed Birmingham’s industries.

All of this led to fewer jobs, less money, and the closure of local businesses.

Decentralisation and Online Shopping

From the 1980s, shops began moving away from Birmingham city centre to places like Merry Hill in Dudley (10 km away), which was built on an old steelworks site. It had 260 shops and became Europe’s biggest indoor shopping centre. This led to people stopping their shopping in the city centre, causing some shops to close or relocate.

Later, online shopping became increasingly popular, and more people began to shop from home on the internet. This was another reason shops left the city centre.

What Did Birmingham Do About It?

To bring people back, Birmingham redeveloped its city centre, especially the Bull Ring shopping centre. In 2003, it reopened with modern shops and Selfridges as a main attraction. It even had parking for 3,000 cars.

Additionally, New Street Station underwent a complete rebuild and reopened in 2015. It became not just a train station but also a huge shopping and meeting place. It now connects to a shopping mall with a John Lewis store.