A2 GEOGRAPHY   -   AQA SYLLABUS A

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14.2 Managing Cities -Challenges and Issues

Central area changes, causes and effects

• Decline of central area business: causes, with particular reference to economic processes in relation to disadvantages of CBD location, and also to advantages of competing areas.
• Effects of decline of the central area: loss of certain functions such as food retailing, DIY, electrical goods, flight to the fringe, ‘dead heart’ concept, impact on quality, intensity of use, vacant buildings. Areas of discard. Other changes in central area function to include a consideration of the development of specialised shopping areas and the expansion of leisure facilities. A small scale study is required.
• Reversing the decline New retailing developments, precincts etc. office developments including international organisations, the concept of the global city, growth of tourist facilities and areas, beautification of central area in terms of conservation, pedestrianisation, marinas, gentrified areas and similar cases of assimilation. The 24 hour city idea. Small scale examples and larger cities to demonstrate specific cases such as tourism/recreation and linkage with business activities. The relationship between some of these developments and re-urbanisation.
• Urban Deprivation Decay and deprivation: causes and characteristics with particular reference to UK case studies.
• The inner city and the ghetto: characteristics, causes of decline with cases to include UK exemplars. Housing shortages and crisis and access to housing. Peripheral social housing and inner city high rise developments: problems and solutions.
• Inner city initiatives: first wave of re-development as well as more recent alternatives, and UDCs including those still in operation. An evaluation of these schemes such as Cardiff Bay. Candidates must consider the attitudes and values of decision makers as well as exploring their own in relation to these developments.
• Candidates must be aware that areas of early redevelopment are often now being further improved in addition to pre-1945 housing. There is a need to be aware that the indicators of imbalance described in Topic 14.1 are also relevant at a city scale. Small-scale studies and larger cities are to provide illustration at varying scales. The link between re-urbanisation/gentrification and the plight of the urban poor is to be analysed.
• The LEDW case: the growth, location and characteristics of shanty towns. Links with general development, e.g. unequal growth. An evaluation of initiatives such as site and service, co-operatives, self-help, high rise blocks, new settlements, satellite settlements. 
• Evaluation to consider both the success as well as the challenges in the context of the MEDW and LEDW.

Environmental issues 

• Pollution and associated health risks related to air, water and land, e.g. smog, low-level ozone, lead, noise. The issue of waste disposal: land fill sites, incineration. Threats to urban ecosystems.
• Urban conservation projects relating to both the ‘natural’ and built environments. Containing growth: green belts, wedges, buffers and hearts, with case studies relating to the UK and EU.
• Synthesis of spatial variations in quality of urban life related to economic, social and environmental processes. The role of values and attitudes of decision makers and an evaluation of their own values in relation to urban issues.