Need for Regeneration (Edexcel A Level Geography)

Statistical evidence

• The use of statistics can provide evidence of the need for regeneration 

• The criteria showing the need for regeneration include:

  • Social - ethnicity, access to education and healthcare, educational achievement, community facilities

  • Economic - types of employment, unemployment, business rates, property values

  • Environmental -  derelict land, closed shops, boarded-up buildings, graffiti, pollution, lack of green space, transport provision

• Local authorities use:

  • Census data to assess the need for regeneration and identify demographics that they want to attract to the area

  • The Labour Force Survey to determine the average income for different jobs and the types of work carried out by local people

    • This helps to identify gaps in the labour market

• Index of multiple deprivation (IMD) to identify small areas that are deprived and in need of regeneration

• This quantitative data is very useful as it:

  • Provides a way to measure the social, economic and environmental problems in an area

  • Can be used to compare places

Reading-evaluating the need for regeneration

• Unemployment rates are low for Reading (4.1%); it is only slightly higher than the UK average (3.8% for 2022) 

  • 23.5% of the unemployed were on long-term sick

• Reading has a highly skilled workforce, with 20% more managerial, administrative or professional households than the national average 

• The average salary in Reading is £45,400 (2022), which is £5000 more than the UK average

• There was an increase of 5% in private rented housing between the 2011 and 2021 census

• Shoplifting was the fastest-growing crime in 2023 and it increased by 47.6% over the last year

• Reading is the 3rd most unequal ‘city’ in terms of wealth (Gini coefficient 2017)

• According to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (2019), Reading is ranked the 141st most deprived out of 317 local authorities in the country

• Life expectancy is 6.8 years lower for men and 7.8 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Reading than in the least deprived areas (Public Health England 2018-20)

• Some of the data shows that Reading is an affluent area, with a highly skilled workforce (unemployment rate, salary) and therefore might not need as much regeneration as some other places

• However, evidence from the data (shoplifting rates, inequality in life expectancy and wealth) shows that there are pockets of poverty within Reading, which would benefit from regeneration

Middlesbrough - evaluating the need for regeneration

• Middlesbrough has the third-highest unemployment rate in the North East at 8.2% (2022)

  • With 33.2% on long-term sick

• Weekly pay is £555, compared to £642.2 per week in the UK (2022)

• 29.1% of the working population are employed in manual/processing jobs, which are typically low-paid

• The health of people in Middlesbrough is generally worse than the England average

• Middlesbrough is one of the 20% most deprived districts in England

• Approximately 31.8% (9,450) of children live in low-income families

• Life expectancy for both men (75.3 years) and women (80) is lower than the England average (men - 79.6, women - 83.2)

• Life expectancy is 12.6 years lower for men and 12.0 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Middlesbrough than in the least deprived areas

• The evidence suggests that Middlesbrough requires more regeneration than Reading

Media evidence

• Using media (television dramas, blogs, films, news broadcasts, newspapers) can help develop a viewer’s sense of place

• Media can provide contrasting evidence, including different stakeholders, and question whether the chosen areas require regeneration

• However, media is subjective and may not accurately show the need for regeneration:

  • Some writers may portray a favourable image of a place to enhance a story

  • Other places may be depicted as worse than they are to add drama, which risks stigmatising an area and its locals

• The BBC (2019) aired a series of short documentaries about Middlesbrough, called We Are Middlesbrough

  • The locals were all very positive about Middlesbrough, despite it being classed as one of the most deprived areas in the UK

• Based on statistics, Reading is not a deprived area and has a high quality of life

  • However, one news article states “Reading town centre among most crime-ridden in England and Wales” (2021)

  • Whilst another report states Reading is the 26th safest place in the UK

Different representations

• Different representations of places can influence the perceived need for regeneration 

• Some possible representations that could influence people’s perceptions regarding regeneration include:

  • Newspapers

  • News reports

  • Documentaries on TV

  • YouTube video clips uploaded by individuals

  • Estate agents

  • Tourism and local enterprise offices

  • Local authorities

• It is important to consider the accuracy of documentaries and video sources:

  • Only a small number of people might be interviewed

  • Only a few images might be shown

  • The local community forums might be very vocal and not represent the majority