Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mr. March, and I'm here today to teach you all about Liverpool's CBD and inner city, its challenges and opportunities from its decline.

So grab everything that you need for today's lesson and let's get going.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to describe how 20th century decline in Liverpool's CBD and inner city led to challenges and opportunities for the population and its economy.

There are four key terms that we need to know for today's lesson, and those are deindustrialization, depopulation, studentification, and gentrification.

Deindustrialization refers to a decline in importance of the industrial sector.

For example, the closure of factories.

Depopulation refers to the reduction in the population of an area typically involving out migration following deindustrialization.

Studentification refers to areas with a high concentration of students typically in subdivided rental properties.

And finally, gentrification refers to the upgrading of areas, typically housing, often in the inner city, making them more desirable, but often more expensive.

There are three learning cycles for today's lesson.

We're gonna start with learning cycle one, which is all about the 20th century decline of Liverpool.

Now, the city of Liverpool has undergone significant changes, both through its population and economies since 1960.

By looking at this timeline, we can really get a sense of just those changes over time.

For example, between 1960 and 1980 or to 1990, we see Liverpool in a period of population and economic decline, and it's really from 1980 onwards that we see this period of regeneration.

And as a result, since 2000, we've seen a period of population and economic growth Between 1960 and 1990, as I said, Liverpool's CBD and inner city experienced significant economic and population decline.

The decline was triggered by deindustrialization, which refers to the closure of industries and factories.

Now, the decline of the Albert Dock as shown on the map in front of you is an example of this deindustrialization.

The Albert Dock opened in 1846, and it occupied an area of around three hectares equivalent to about three football fields.

The dock was surrounded by warehouses and served the sailing ships involved in the transatlantic trade.

This included goods such as cotton, sugar, and tobacco.

The Albert Dock was critical for Liverpool's growth and prosperity in the 19th century.

The 1860s saw major advancements in transport technology, including the introduction of large steamships, capable of carrying more cargo at greater speeds.

However, this progress had a negative impact on the Albert Docks.

As these larger vessels were ill suited to its confined space, leading to a decline in trade, as ships were forced to dock elsewhere.

By the 1920s, there were virtually no commercial ships using the dock.

During the 1960s and 1970s, deindustrialization led to the widespread closure and abandonment of Liverpool city center's docks, including Albert Dock.

The introduction of con of containerization shifted the dock operations northwards to Seaforth where there was more space.

The Albert Dock was last used as a commercial dock in 1971.

So I create learning check and it says, why did Liverpool move its docks northwards to Seaforth in the 1960s and '70s? You have three options in front of you.

What I'd like you to do then is pause the video here whilst you read through those three options and select what you consider to be the correct answer.

And the correct answer was C.

It was moved because it needed more space for large container ships.

Really, really well done if you two selected C as the correct answer.

Our second learning check says, between the 1950s and 1970s, the Albert Dock went into a period of steady decline.

The dock was last used for loading and unloading ships in.

Now, once again, I'd like you to do then is pause the video here whilst you try to recall that piece of information, that date, to Complete the sentence here.

And the correct answer was 1971.

Really, really well done if you're able to recall that piece of information.

Now, the deindustrialization of the Albert Dock, as can be seen on the picture in front of you, led to a number of different challenges.

Because following its closure, the dock and its surrounding area was left largely abandoned, and the ones thriving warehouses fell into disrepair, suffering from vandalism and neglect.

The dock itself became full of contaminated silt, and the building suffered from a lack of modern infrastructure, including water, electricity, and sanitation.

So time there for another learning check, it says, which of the following was not a challenge for the Albert Dock following its abandonment in 1971? I have four options on the screen in front of you.

What I'd like you to do is pause the video whilst you read through those four options and then select what you consider to be the correct answer.

And the correct answer was, D, significant air pollution.

Yes, A, B, and C were all significant challenges faced by Albert Dock following its abandonment in 1971.

So really, really well done if you're able to select D as the correct option.

So deindustrialization led to depopulation, and most people that worked in the docks were low skilled and lived in the CBD and inner city.

They moved to seek work elsewhere.

And the graph in front of you does a great job in showing the first population growth within Liverpool, and then also the decline following 1931.

Because Liverpool's population declined by 48% between 1931 and 2001, largely initiated by the decline of port activities and the closure of manufacturing industries.

Between 1971 and 1991, 230,000 jobs were lost in the Liverpool area, and many people migrated away from the CBD and inner city in search of employment elsewhere.

Liverpool's workforce was more than 30% smaller in the 1990s than it had been in the 1970s.

The sectors most severely affected were coal, ship building, vehicles, and glass.

Most of the people who migrated were low-skilled and lived in the lower income areas of the CBD and inner city.

And also less money was spent in the CBD and inner city.

And as a result, these areas fell further into decline.

Time there for another learning check, and it says, who is correct? Now , you can see you've got three statements on the screen in front of you, one by Sam, one by Sofia, and one by Alex.

What I would like you to do is pause the video here whilst you read through their three statements and decide who is correct.

So pause the video here, and best of luck.

And the correct answer was Sam.

And Sam, she says that deindustrialization in Liverpool led to depopulation as people migrated in search of employment.

Really, really well done if you are able to identify Sam as being the correct answer.

So for those who remained, housing conditions in Liverpool's inner city were simply inadequate.

As these comments from people really tried to highlight.

For example, it says cellar houses were dark, damp, and rife with both disease and vermin.

Outside toilets were shared between up to 10 families.

Housing conditions were some of the worst in the UK, and really life was hard and short.

Many older, poorer quality houses in the inner city were abandoned and left to deteriorate, particularly in areas like Toxteth as you can see in front of you on the screen.

By 1980, Liverpool's CBD and inner city had lost population, and its economy was in decline.

It was in recession.

Unemployment hit double figures.

It hit 20%, which was double the UK average, and there was significant social unrest as a result.

As the image in front of you does a great job In illustrating, it shows teenagers are surveying the aftermath of a second night of violent rioting in the Toxteth District of Liverpool.

Time now for learning check.

it says, which of the following is the most accurate statement about Liverpool in the 1980s? You have three statements on the screen.

So what I'd like you to do then is pause the video here whilst you read through those statements and then consider and then select your answer.

And the correct answer was a Liverpool was in crisis.

Yes, due to deindustrialization and depopulation, we begin to see areas of Liverpool become deprived.

And as a result, we see that Liverpool is in a period of crisis.

So we now have five practise questions to finish learning cycle one, and the first one says to match the details of the Albert Dock's decline to the appropriate place on the timelines.

So you can see you've got four statements as well as four dates with which to match those statements to.

The second practise question says to complete the challenges Albert Dock faced after its closure.

And you can see there is a paragraph of writing there with three gaps for you to fill in.

The third question says, why did deindustrialization lead to depopulation of the CBD and inner city? Question four says, why did depopulation lead to the decline of the CBD and inner city? And question five says, what challenges did people that remained in the inner city and CBD face? So what I'd like you to do then right now is pause the video whilst you attempt these practise questions.

Best of luck.

And the feedback.

So you were asked to match those statements to the four dates that you can see on the timeline in front of you.

Let's have a look at the answers.

So in 1846, we see that the Albert Dock is open to transatlantic trading goods, such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton.

In the 1860s, large steamships become more common.

They couldn't fit in the Albert Dock, so trade reduced as a result.

In the 1920s, commercial use of the dock was virtually nil.

And in 1971, widespread deindustrialization led to Albert Dock's last use as docks moved to Seaforth further north from the city.

The second question ask you to complete the challenges Albert Dock faced after its closure, and this was the complete paragraph.

It says, "Albert dock fell into disrepair and suffered from vandalism.

The dock became full of contaminated silt, and buildings lacked modern infrastructure, for example, electricity and sanitation." Question three said, why did deindustrialization lead to depopulation of the CBD in inner city? Your answer may have included the following.

The inner city areas like Toxteth suffered depopulation because a lot of the people that lived there worked in the docks and in manufacturing.

Deindustrialization meant their jobs disappeared, and they needed to move elsewhere to find work.

Question four said, why did depopulation lead to the decline of the CBD and inner city areas? Now, once again, your answer may have included the following.

I've said that the money that was once spent in the CBD and inner city was spent elsewhere as the population moved away.

The fifth and final question said, what challenges did people that remained in the CBD and inner city face? Once again, your answer may have included the following.

For the people that remained living in the CBD and inner city, housing quality was often very poor and included infestations of vermin, the economy was in recession, unemployment in these areas of the city hit 20%, and there was a lot of social unrest.

So really, really well done if you were able to get anything like that in your own answers.

Our second learning cycle looked at the 20th century regeneration.

Regeneration of the CBD and inner city began in the 1980s and is still ongoing today.

The government knew it had to revive the economy and provide jobs to encourage people back into Liverpool.

It established the Merseyside Development Corporation in 1981 to regenerate Liverpool's waterfront.

One of its first projects was indeed the Albert Dock.

As you can see in front of you, its transformation from that broken dilapidated area after 1971 to the modern expanse that we see on the right image in front of you.

The government's establishment of the Merseyside Development Corporation, which was aimed at regenerating Liverpool's waterfront and docks, ended up creating 22,000 jobs.

The work included clearing and reclaiming the land, demolishing dangerous buildings, and building new infrastructure.

Nearly four kilometres squared of land was redeveloped and 97 kilometres of new roads and footpaths were created.

It was also determined to protect the historic docks and its buildings, and incorporate them into the redeveloped area.

Contaminated silt was removed from the dock, and walls, bridges, and gates were repaired.

The Albert Docks reopened in 1984 as a cultural hub full of museums, restaurants, offices, and flats.

It opened in time for the Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Race, bringing over 150,000 people to the Albert Dock.

In 1986, the Merseyside Maritime Museum opened in a warehouse that used to store sugar, tea, and silk.

The museum is home to objects and archives of the Port of Liverpool and attracted further investment into the area.

Time now for a learning check.

And it says, when did the Albert Dock reopen after its regeneration? You have three options on the screen in front of you.

So please pause the video here whilst you consider, and then select your answer.

And the correct answer was B, 1984.

Really, really well done if you were able to recall that piece of information.

Now, during the 1990s, Liverpool's economy began to diversify, shifting its focus towards services, tourism, and retail.

Significant investments in infrastructure and cultural projects played a crucial role in reshaping the CBD, improving its appeal to businesses and visitors alike.

Additionally, institutions like the University of Liverpool contributed to the growing research and innovation sectors, further supporting the city's economic revival.

For low-skilled workers who lost their port jobs due to deindustrialization, there were opportunities in sectors such as construction and retail, and all of this diversification in terms of its economy made Liverpool much more resilient.

And another learning check, and it says, how does economic diversification support regeneration? You have a paragraph on the screen in front of you with two gaps to fill.

So what I'd like you to do then is pause the video whilst you read through that paragraph and do your best to fill those two gaps that you see in front of you.

Best of luck.

And the answers were, so, economic diversification support Liverpool's regeneration by creating job opportunities.

attracting investment, and making the economy less reliant on manufacturing.

This ensures steady growth even if the sector struggles.

Really, really well done if you're able to recall those two pieces of information.

Significant areas of low quality housing in the CBD and inner city were demolished, and redevelopment projects included a mixture of housing in green spaces.

As we can see, one area of slum that you can see on the picture in front of you, this was one area of slum clearance in Upper Parliament Street area of Liverpool in 1974.

Many high-rise tower blocks were demolished in the 1980s and 1990s due to poor design, lack of maintenance and social problems. Swathes of terrorist housing found in inner city areas that were considered to be in slum like condition were also demolished.

Areas like Toxteth, Everton, and Voxel saw redevelopment projects that included a mix of private housing, social housing, and green spaces.

Council estates were transferred to housing associations who took over management and refurbishment.

Housing associations, such as Liverpool Housing Trust, played a key role in refurbishing older properties and building new affordable housing in the CBD and inner city.

Another learning check, and it says true or false, Demolition of housing in Liverpool's CBD and inner city during the 1980s and 1990s was only due to social problems. So pause the video here whilst you consider, and then select your answer.

And the correct answer was false.

Now I'd like you to pause the video whilst you consider as to why this statement is false.

And the reason it's false is because demolition of housing in Liverpool's CBD and inner city during the 1980s and 1990s was a result of social problems, but also poor design, lack of maintenance, and slum-like conditions.

Really, really well done if you're able to get those two answers correct.

We're on now to our one and only practise question for the second learning cycle, and it says, explain how each of the following regeneration projects aim to encourage people back to the CBD and inner city.

So there are three parts to this one practise question.

The first one is all about the redevelopment of the Albert Dock.

The second is the diversification of the economy, and the third one is the housing clearance and redevelopment.

So what I'd like you to do then is pause the video here whilst you attempt this practise question.

Best of luck.

Time for some feedback.

We're gonna start with the redevelopment of the Albert Dock.

Now your answer may have included something like this.

Redevelopment of the Albert Dock created 22,000 jobs which encouraged people back to the CBD for work.

Its redevelopment was designed to make it a cultural hub with lots of museums, restaurants, offices, and flats to encourage people to visit.

For the diversification of the economy, your answer may have included the following, Diversifying the economy meant that there was a wide range of jobs available, which attracted more people to Liverpool.

Some of these jobs were lower skilled, such as retail and tourism-related work.

It also included high-skilled jobs, such as those linked to the universities found in the CBD to attract a wide range of people.

And finally, housing clearance and redevelopment.

Again, your answer may have included something like this.

Demolition of housing in the 1980s and 1990s led to job opportunities in construction.

The redevelopment of housing also attracted people back to the CBD and inner city as the housing was now of better quality than previously.

So really, really well done if you're able to include anything like that in your own answers.

Run now to our third and final learning cycle, and this is all about the 21st century regeneration and growth.

Looking back to our timeline then, and regeneration really did begin to have a massive impact.

And since 2000, Liverpool's CBD and inner city have experienced both economic and population growth, and the regeneration continues even to this day.

Between 2001 and 2021, Liverpool's population grew by over 45,000, and most of this growth was found in the CBD and the inner city.

If we look at that graph in front of you, it really does track exactly where this population growth was found.

And if we follow that purple line in particular, as well as the other lines too indeed, but specifically that CBD purple line, we can really see how the population has grown massively between 2001 and 2021.

Since 2000, Liverpool's economy has grown at a faster rate than the UK's.

And in 2023, Liverpool became the UK's fastest growing city economy.

From the 2010s to the present, Liverpool has continued to grow and has attracted significant TNC investment in a wide range of areas, including investment in regeneration projects, especially around the city centre and waterfront.

For example, the Liverpool ONE shopping centre was developed by the Grosvenor Group, a global property development and investment company.

Liverpool has plenty of recreation and entertainment opportunities, and sport plays a large part in this, and it's home to two Premiership Football teams, Liverpool and Everton.

Everton are due to move to the new 52,000-plus-seater stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for the 2025, 2026 season.

And outdoor spaces, gardens, parks, and beaches offer opportunities for leisure and recreation.

Water sports and sailing are popular activities in the CBD.

In regards to cultural and creative industries, Sony and Universal and Warner Music have supported Liverpool's emergence as a culture and creative centre.

Companies have partnered with local institutions like Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool's Tate Gallery, all found within the CBD, to promote the city as a destination for culture and creativity, with TNCs sponsoring events and contributing to the city's branding.

Liverpool was designated as the European capital of culture in 2008.

In terms of technology and innovation.

TNCs and tech and digital industries, such as Microsoft and IBM, have also made their mark on Liverpool's redevelopment.

These companies are focused on education, research, and innovation.

Finally, in terms of finance and business services, Liverpool is a leading financial and business hub, employing over 41,000 people.

The city is home to well-established firms like Investec Wealth.

Businesses benefit from a skilled workforce, excellent tech infrastructure, and collaborative networks supported by over 17,000 students studying related degrees.

Time now for a learning check, and it says, which statement best describes Liverpool's growth from 2001? You have three statements on the screen in front of you, so please read through the three statements, and then consider and select your answer.

And the correct answer was, A, Liverpool's population and economy have both grown since 2001.

Really, really well done if you're able to get that answer correct, complete the statement now about TNC investment in Liverpool.

So what I'd like you to do then is pause the video whilst you read through Sam's statement and do your best to complete the statement you see.

So the correct answer was TNC investment in Liverpool has been focused on regeneration projects, cultural and creative industries, technology and innovation, as well as financial and business services.

So really, really well done if you got that statement correct.

Now, with this regeneration, as well as its economic and population growth, there has been challenges and opportunities for both the CBD and the inner city.

Let's have a look at some of those now.

So in terms of studentification, we see areas with a high concentration now of students typically in subdivided rental properties.

We also see gentrification, which is the upgrading of areas, typically housing, most often in the CBD and inner city.

And finally, we see opportunities and challenges within e-commerce, the buying and selling of goods online.

In an area of Liverpool called Kingston, the inner city has experienced studentification due to its proximity to the universities as we can see on the map in front of you.

Landlords, as a result, have bought cheap inner city properties, and converted them from family homes into houses of multiple occupancy, which are more suited to the students which wish to live there.

However, studentification of areas within inner city Liverpool has brought both challenges and opportunities.

In terms of opportunities, it has certainly boosted the local economy with cafes, restaurants, and other businesses geared towards that student market.

It's also revitalised previously declining areas as well as encouraging investment in terms of infrastructure and transport.

However, in terms of challenges, it has caused house prices to rise, which has pushed out local residents.

There is also short term tendencies of reduced community stability.

And finally, there are noise and waste management issues as a result of more students moving into the area.

The gentrification of the CBD and inner cities, such as Toxteth, has also brought challenges and opportunities.

In terms of opportunities, we definitely see an urban renewal as a result of this gentrification.

We see inward economic investment as well as increasing opportunities within culture and leisure sectors.

However, in terms of challenges, as a result, we do indeed see rising property prices.

We see a displacement of low-income populations as a result perhaps of those rising property prices.

And also we see a social tension, tension between different social groups, perhaps a tension between the more wealthy incoming people as well as the perhaps poorer native people who have been living in Liverpool for perhaps generations.

E-commerce has also brought challenges and opportunities to the CBD in inner city.

For example, it has certainly caused a growth in terms of the economy as well as job opportunities for people.

There have been technological advancements as well as less demand for city centre land with more retail being done online.

In terms of challenges though, that creates a decline on the high street with less retail activity happening on the high street and more happening online.

This, unfortunately, is leading to a decline in those traditional high street areas.

There's also increased traffic and pollution as a result of this increased e-commerce.

So a learning check, it says true or false, the impacts of regeneration are all positive.

So pause the video here whilst you consider, and then select your answer.

And the correct answer was false.

No I'd like you to pause the video whilst you consider as to why this statement is false.

And the reason it's false is because, well, regeneration brings many opportunities, but also it brings challenges.

For example, gentrification has led to house price rises in the CBD and inner city.

So really, really well done if you're able to get those two answers correct.

We're now to our final practise question for our final learning cycle, and it all revolves around the statement that you see on the screen in front of you.

It says, population and economic growth in 21st century has been completely positive for Liverpool's CBD and inner city.

Now, this task is broken down into three different steps.

The first one is to place across on the line representing your own opinion.

The second is then to state your opinion.

Do you agree, disagree, partly agree with a statement? And then finally, you need to justify your opinion.

Try to use information that you've learned today about studentification, gentrification, and e-commerce.

So what I'd like you to do then is pause a video here whilst you attempt this practise question.

Best of luck.

Time now for some feedback.

And your response may have looked something like this.

Now remember, this question is entirely opinion-based, and this is where I have placed myself on that spectrum in terms of my response to that statement in front of you.

You may though have had something slightly different to mine.

And this is my statement in terms of why I placed myself in that position on that spectrum, which you saw on the previous slide.

And perhaps your response may look something similar as well.

I've said that I broadly agree with the statement, but not all population and economic growth has been entirely positive.

Studentification has revitalised areas of the inner city, but it has also led to noise and waste management issues.

Gentrification has led to significant urban renewal and economic investment in the CBD and inner city, but it's also displaced local residents who are unable to afford the rise in house prices.

E-commerce has led to economic growth and job creation, but also it's caused the decline of the local high Street.

So really, really well done if you're able to include anything like that in your own answer.

In terms of our learning summary and what you need to know from today's lesson, well, deindustrialization led to depopulation and decline in Liverpool between 1931 and 2001 as we can see on the timeline in front of you.

Regeneration included economic diversification, regeneration, and housing redevelopment.

Challenges and opportunities for the CBD and inner city have included studentification, gentrification, and e-commerce.

So really, really well done during today's lesson.

It was a pleasure teaching you, and I will see you again on the next lesson.

Goodbye.