Dynamics of Change (AQA A Level Geography)

Places change as a result of a combination of specific processes carried out by stakeholders 

Stakeholders are groups in society, so their actions have a huge role in constructing place identity 

Place identity and character do not happen by accident but instead through choices made by society to construct a distinctive sense of place

Stakeholder groups within society have the power to change and shape places through investment, voting, or protesting 

• Focus E15, a campaign group, successfully protested against the demolition of the Carpenter’s estate in Stratford, a rapidly gentrifying area of London 

• Torbay Council in Devon is investing £150m to develop new homes and the local economy in the area

• The Brexit referendum vote to leave the EU shows how voting can have a huge impact on placing a character on a national scale 

The forces of change acting on a place will change the lived experience of those in the area

When there are flows of people that change a place’s demography and culture, lived experiences can be different due to a whole new set of experiences being available. 

• Immigrant communities often start food businesses or celebrate festivals from their culture which changes lived experience in the area

• The ‘Curry Mile’ is a nickname for part of Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, South Manchester

Economic growth or decline due to changes in investment will affect the services available and change the lived experience 

Gentrification and globalisation are both processes that are strong forces for change when it comes to placing character

• Investment by TNCs from overseas is a very strong way in which globalisation affects place character

• The Australian TNC ‘Westfield’ has invested in many areas in London such as Stratford and Shepherd’s bush to create shopping and leisure areas

• This brings jobs and a new element of identity to these locations 

• Gentrification is a powerful process that can affect house prices, average earnings and levels of deprivation 

• An example is the St Philips area in Bristol where a new university campus is being built that will attract thousands of students and change the demographic and economy of the area

One of the key concepts of geography is the timescale 

Places change over time in many ways but often keep connections to their past 

Past industrial connections have significantly shaped Hackney Wick and many other locations in the UK

New housing developments can play with these past connections such as the Bagel Factory in gentrified Hackney Wick, east London  

• The building is full of residential apartments now but in the early twentieth century, it was the site of an actual bagel factory.

Historical connections will shape place character across international scales. During the time of the British Empire, many colonial cities such as Delhi were built to incorporate British styles of architecture, this shapes the character of these cities to this day