1. RURAL SETTLEMENT
CHANGES AND ISSUES IN
THE UK
Lesson 7

2. Key factors explaining changes
in UK rural areas:
• Improvements in transport
• Increased standards of living
• Decreased size of households

4. • Industries and retailing
are moving to rural
areas…
• Three important factors:
1. Dissatisfaction of urban
lifestyles
2. Increase in car ownership
3. Improving technology
which allows industries
to become ‘footloose’

6. • Many villages have grown at alarming
rates and have lost their original character,
form and function. These are often
described as dormitory, commuter or
suburbanised villages. A good example is
the GOWER Village.

7. OLD GOWER VILLAGE

10. Disadvantages of second homes:
• House and land price escalate
• Conflict between permanent population and temporary
population
• Roads become congested
• Driving is hazardous and there is an increase number of
accidents
• Local environment will be deteriorate
• New buildings may not fit into local surroundings such as
Swiss-style chalets in Snowdonia

12. Advantages of second homes:
• Economic development of backward rural areas
• Taxes from second homes helps to support local
services
• The competition between second home owners
and young people may not as great as generally
assumed. Most second home owners require an
isolated home without electricity or a bath so
that they can renovate it.

13. IONA - SCOTLAND

14. IONA - SCOTLAND
• A remote island off west coast of scotland
• Rural communities are experiencing rural depopulation
• 1980s – population fell by 40%
• Severe shortage of jobs – unemployment rates are high
• Difficult to attract young people and migrants to the island
• Traditional industries such as fishing and farming are
gradually being eroded

15. • Iona’s scenario is totally different from Gower
Peninsula in Wales which is experiencing
Repopulation. The village has seen in-migration of
young couples who work outside village.

17. • Population in Iona is ageing
• Over 40% community is over age of 60 years
• 1999 – there were only 4 children in the island school
• Few facilities
• No high demand for services

18. Noting activities
• Read case study: Development pressures in
Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire (pg 166, Ross)
• Answer question 1 & 2 (Pg 167, Ross)