WJEC AS Geography Unit GG2 GENERALISATION B: Aspects of rural change

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WJEC AS GeographyUnit GG2 GENERALISATION B
Aspects of rural change

• Counter-urbanisation is characterised by a shift
  of people and employment from metropolitan to
  non-metropolitan areas.
• Rural-urban distinction becoming blurred.
• Causes of population and employment growth in one
  non-metropolitan region.
• Within one rural area, nature and extent of
  changes in population and employment vary in
  relation to accessibility to urban centre, scenic
  quality and planning decisions.

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Counter-urbanisation of Cardiff

• Cardiff docks reached their peak in 1913
  exporting 13.5 million tonnes of coal.
• This dropped rapidly after WWII. Coupled with the
  closure of the East Moor Steelworks unemployment
  rose.
• Low income, racial prejudice and ageing housing
  stock lead to the bay area becoming a Zone of
  Discard.
• By the 1970s and early 1980s the outward
  movement from the Bay area lead to the
  suburbanisation at the urban-rural fringe.
• Beyond the fringe, in accessible, attractive
  rural settlements, these urban refugees bought
  homes and became commuters. Suburbanised villages
  emerged.

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Suburbanisation of Llantwit Major in the Vale of
Glamorgan

• Llantwit Major has seen significant
  suburbanisation since the 1970s. this
  corresponds with an era of counter-urbanisation
  in the nearby Capital city.
• It is possible to identify the original core on
  an O.S. map by-
• The convergence of original roads and lanes
• Historic building such as churches and ruins
• The more formal layout of roads and housing in
  
• the modern suburbs.

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Historic Buildings in the original village core.
http//www.llantwit-major.net/2004/history.shtm
St. Illtuds church
Ruined Manor house, Llantwit Place
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Why did the commuters come to Llantwit Major

• Census data since 1961 shows a steady increase in
  the percentage of people employed in management
  and professional roles. These commuters chose
  Llantwit Major probably because of its
• Accessibility to Cardiff thanks to the A48 and
  M4. Bridgend and Cowbridge are easy to get to.
• Good range of services including schools,
  retailing, health and leisure.
• Availability of new housing and renovated
  character properties.
• Attractive townscape and local environment.
  Llantwit Major is only 1 mile from the Glamorgan
  Heritage Coast and has many sites of historic
  interest.

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Accessibility

• By clicking the link below it may be possible to
  determine the travelling times to nearby towns
  and cities.
• http//rp.rac.co.uk/routeplanner

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2. Services and facilities

• Llantwit Major now boasts
• A Leisure Centre
• Two Supermarkets
• Several Primary and a Comprehensive Schools
• A Doctors Surgery
• Library

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3. Available housing
Many former barns have been converted since the
1980s in the old core of Llantwit Major.
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3. Available housing
Many of todays most desirable homes have humble
origins as the original dwellings of rural people.
The Old Malthouse
Huntsmans Cottage
West Farm
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3. Available housing
Expensive, modern, planned estates cater for the
majority of newcomers to Llantwit Major.
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4. Attractive local environment
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Suburbanisation in other areas of the Vale of
Glamorgan

• Cowbridge is actually more accessible and
  arguably has a better townscape than Llantwit.
  But reduced housing availability has restricted
  growth.
• St. Donats just to west of Llantwit has not grown
  significantly because of poorer access, less
  services and restricted housing availability.
• St. Athans military reputation and closeness to
  heavy industry has perhaps made this less
  attractive to commuters.
• St. Hilary has all the necessary qualities
  commuters desire but strict planning controls on
  housing development has limited its growth.

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Sketch Map of Vale of Glamorgan Commuter
Settlements
A48
Cardiff
Bridgend
Cowbridge
St. Hilary
B4270
Llandow Industrial Estate
Bridgend
St. Athan
Llantwit Major
St. Donats
B4265
Barry
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Increasing employment opportunities near Llantwit
Major

• Llandow Industrial Estate is approximately 3 km
  north of Llantwit Major and provides increasing
  numbers of employment opportunities for the Vale
  of Glamorgan.
• It is built on a Brownfield site utilizing roads
  and hangars from a WWII air base.
• It comprises of a trading, business and retail
  units.

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Llandow Trading Estate This shows the former air
traffic control tower converted to the site
office.
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Llandow Business Park The large Weavers Ford
dealership can be seen in the background
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Llandow Retail Estate This shows one of the
several air craft hangars that has been converted
to business use at Llandow Industrial Estate
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Attraction of Llandow Industrial Estate for
businesses

• Access is good. The A48 is 3 km away which then
  allows good access to the M4 corridor.
• Brownfield site status means planning controls
  are more relaxed and land is probably cheaper
  compared to urban locations.
• A large pool of labour and is accessible in
  nearby Llantwit Major and Cowbridge.
• Its rural location provides a more pleasant
  working environment.
• Essential services are already in place.

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Summary

• This case study should enable students to see
  that-
• Suburbanisation leads to rural settlements taking
  on more urban characteristics (e.g. sprawl,
  pollution, industry).
• The nature and extent of suburbanisation depends
  on four main characteristics. Llantwit Major
  possess them all.
• Rural locations like the Vale of Glamorgan are
  becoming increasingly attractive for business.