Lesson video

Hello, I'm Mrs. Grey, and I'm so excited that you decided to join me to learn Geography today.

Today's lesson is in our unit of "Cities: what are they like to live in?" And the title of today's lesson is "Regenerating cities." By the end of the lesson today, you will be able to explain how and why cities are regenerated.

There are some keywords that we'll come across in today's lesson.

They are regeneration, dereliction, and community.

Regeneration is the process of improving and re-energizing an area.

For example, creating jobs.

Dereliction is when buildings or land degrades into a state of poor condition, having been abandoned.

And community is a group of people who live in the same area and have common interests.

Today's lesson on regenerating cities is split into two learning cycles.

The first, why do cities need regeneration? And the second, how does regeneration affect communities? So let's take a look at our first learning cycle, why do cities need regeneration? Cities are always changing.

Cities grow and change because of economic and social factors.

For example, new businesses might open or old factories might close.

These changes affect where people live and work.

Our first check of the lesson now then.

True or false? Cities are always changing.

Is that true or false? So pause the video, break down your answer, and then come back and let's see how you got on.

How did you get on? True or false? Cities are always changing.

That's true; cities grow and change because of economic and social factors.

Now, economic factors influence how cities change.

Cities often grow around industries like shipbuilding, steelmaking, or textiles.

When businesses close or move abroad, jobs are lost from the area.

Without a job, people leave in search of work elsewhere.

And without ongoing investment, factory buildings weather and degrade.

This process of economic decline and dereliction is one reason that cities need regeneration.

So those economic factors, those factors to do with money, they influence the change of cities and then impact on their need for regeneration.

So when cities are growing around industry, if those businesses close, then people are gonna lose their jobs, people are gonna have to find a job elsewhere and then they might then move, and the old factories are gonna grow into disrepair and degrade.

And that's why cities then need regeneration.

Social factors also influence how cities change, so social factors are factors to do with something to do with people.

So, fewer shoppers on the high street with more shopping online or out of town.

Shops on the high street close.

Empty or boarded-up shops, so the area looks inviting.

Graffiti and vandalism, so the area feels less safe.

So there's fewer shops, shoppers on the high street because online shopping is growing, or out of town shopping centres means that in high streets of cities, there's less people there shopping.

That means that then those shops that are on the high street, they then close because they've not got any custom.

And then those shops end up empty or boarded up, so it's not a very inviting place to go.

And that can then lead to graffiti and vandalism, which means areas feel less safe.

Now, empty and boarded-up shops means that a place is less inviting, which then goes all the way back to having fewer shoppers on the high street again.

So even less people are gonna go, and we go through the cycle again.

And then graffiti and vandalism with an area feeling less safe, that's also gonna lead to less people.

So it's like a cycle, and less and less and less people end up on the high street shopping.

And more and more shops close, and then they're boarded up and less inviting and more graffiti and vandalism, so the area feels less safe.

And it just goes on and on and on.

Another check for us now then.

Spot the economic reason why a city might need regeneration.

A, too many parks and green spaces, B, factories closing and jobs being lost, C, too many people moving to the city, D, new houses being built.

So which of those do you think is an economic reason why a city might need regeneration? So pause the video, write down your answer, and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did you get on? Spot the economic reason why a city might need regeneration.

The answer is B, factories closing and jobs being lost.

Did you get that? Well done.

Now, social and economic changes can leave areas looking empty or run-down.

Dereliction is a term that we use when buildings or land degrades into a state of poor condition.

What is the impact of dereliction on people and the environment? You can see a picture there of a derelict building.

What do you think the impact is of dereliction on people and on the environment? Now, regeneration is the process of improving and re-energizing an area of a town or city.

It involves investment.

For example, to create jobs.

Now, regeneration helps make cities better places to live and work.

And you can see an image here of Newcastle.

Newcastle's Quayside was regenerated from an industrial area and commercial dockside with a street market.

Another check then.

What is regeneration? A, building new cities in the countryside, B, improving and renewing run-down areas of a city, C, making cities smaller and less crowded, D, moving people from cities to rural areas.

What is regeneration? So, pause the video, write down your answer, and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did you get on? What is regeneration? And the answer is B, improving and renewing run-down areas of a city.

Did you get that? Well done.

Our first task of the lesson now then.

So it's fill in the gaps, and we've got a little flow chart.

We've got some gaps that you need to fill in.

So, cities often grow around industries like what, steelmaking, or textiles.

Then we move on to when businesses close or move abroad, jobs are what from the area.

Without a job, people what in search of work elsewhere.

And then without ongoing investment, factory buildings weather and what.

So you've got four different gaps there to fill in, so read through those and fill in those gaps.

Question 2, what is the impact of the dereliction of an area? And there's a little hint here: write about people as well as the environment.

So this is for you to write a little bit there to answer this question, what is the impact of dereliction of an area? So, pause the video, look back through those questions, write down your answers, and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did you get on? So, the first task was to fill in the gaps.

Cities often grow around industries like shipbuilding, steelmaking, or textiles.

When businesses close or move abroad, jobs are lost from the area.

Without a job, people leave in search of work elsewhere.

Without ongoing investment, factory buildings weather and degrade.

Did you get all four of those? Well done.

So our next question was what is the impact of the dereliction of an area? And your hint was to write about people as well as the environment.

So dereliction means buildings or land are abandoned and in poor condition.

When factories or businesses close, workers lose jobs and leave.

Empty buildings are left unused and can become unsafe or look ugly.

This leads to a poor environment for the people still living nearby.

Regeneration is needed to improve the area.

How much of that did you get? Well done.

So we're now gonna move on to our second learning cycle.

We've looked at why do cities need regeneration? Now we're gonna look at how does regeneration affect communities? So regeneration improves places affected by dereliction.

New buildings replace empty or broken ones.

Streets and public spaces are repaved, cleaned up, and made safer.

Investment is made in new attractions or services.

This all helps make the area more attractive for residents and visitors.

So this is a few examples of what regeneration does, and that then makes a place more attractive for people who already live there and for visitors coming to the area.

Let's look at a little example now then.

Birmingham Central Library was demolished and replaced with the Library of Birmingham as part of a 20-year plan to regenerate Birmingham's city centre.

So this was the original Birmingham Central Library that was demolished, and this is what it was replaced with, the Library of Birmingham, as part of a big plan to regenerate Birmingham's city centre.

Look at the difference there.

Now, regeneration creates new jobs in shops, offices, and services.

Local people might find work in construction or running new businesses.

Schools, parks, and healthcare centres may be built or improved.

These help support the needs of the community.

So regeneration can have some really positive impacts by providing jobs for people and by providing services and improving services, and that can really help the community.

Another check for us now then.

True or false? Urban regeneration is a geographical term for building new houses.

Is that true or false? So pause the video, write down your answer, and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did you get on.

True or false? Urban regeneration is a geographical term for building new houses.

That's false, but why is it false? Regeneration is not just about new housing.

It also improves transport, creates jobs, and provides community services.

Did you get that right? Well done.

Another check now then.

Which of the following are regeneration projects designed to deliver? Is it A, fewer jobs and more abandoned buildings, B, more pollution and fewer green spaces, C, new buildings, jobs, and improved local services, D, cities becoming smaller and more rural.

So pause the video, write down your answer, and then come back and let's see how you got on.

How did you go? Which of the following are regeneration projects designed to deliver? And the answer is C, new buildings, jobs, and improved local services.

Did you get that one? Well done.

So regeneration results in a better environment for the community.

Improved housing leads to safer and warmer homes.

More green spaces like parks leads to improved health and well-being.

Improved lighting and community pride leads to reduced crime.

These changes aim to make life better for the whole community.

So all of these different changes that are happening have lots of positive impacts and end up with a much better environment for the community and makes life better for the people who live there.

But not everyone experiences the benefits of regeneration in the same way.

Some people may feel left out or ignored.

New shops and services may not be affordable for everyone.

Alex says, "Does this make some people unhappy?" Yeah, sometimes regeneration can create a sense of unfairness within a community.

So there are some negatives, and there are some instances where not everybody is happy with the regeneration.

Another check for us now then.

Why might some people feel left out during regeneration? A, they are given too many new services, B, they prefer derelict buildings, C, new shops and services may not be affordable, D, regeneration always lowers house prices.

So pause the video, write down your answer, and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did to get on? Why might some people feel left out during regeneration? The answer is C, new shops and services may not be affordable.

So regeneration can lead to problems. After regeneration, house prices and rents often rise as the area becomes more of a desirable place to live.

This is known as gentrification.

Some long-time residents may no longer be able to afford to live in the area.

So people who've lived there for a long time, they might not be able to afford to live there anymore.

Now, Alex says, "This must be really sad for the people who end up moving, and their friends." When rich people move in and poorer groups are pushed out of the original community, the original community is broken up.

So when those rich people move in and the poorer groups move out, or are pushed out, then that original community is then broken up.

The feel of an area may be different.

The original sense of place is lost.

So it can be really sad, and it can have some negative impacts.

Now, when the community is involved in planning, the process of regeneration works better.

So when the people who live there are involved in the planning of regeneration and those projects, then the whole process works better.

Sam says, "People who live in the area know what is needed most.

I'd ask for a youth centre." Sofia, "Yes, I agree.

I think my city needs more cycle paths and open spaces." Really, really good ideas there.

Ideas from the community help to make regeneration more successful and fairer.

Another check for us now then.

Why is it important to involve the community in regeneration? A, they can build the new houses themselves, B, local people know what the area needs because they live there, C, it saves money for the government, D, it stops regeneration from happening.

So pause the video, write down your answer, and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did you get on? Why is it important to involve the community in regeneration? The answer is B, local people know what the area needs because they live there.

Did you get that right? Well done.

So we're onto our final task of the lesson now then.

There are five mistakes in the paragraph.

Find and correct them.

Not everyone benefits equally from dereliction.

Sometimes, local people feel left out, especially if new homes and shops are too cheap.

Rising house prices and rents can force members of the new community to move away.

This can break apart the social ties in an area.

To avoid this, it is important that the community is not involved in planning regeneration.

Local people know what their area needs.

Poor regeneration projects retain the unique meaning of a place for local people.

So in that paragraph, there are five different mistakes, so you need to find those mistakes and correct them.

So pause the video while you do that, and then come back and let's see how you got on.

Okay, how did you get on? Not everyone benefits equally from regeneration.

Sometimes, local people feel left out, especially if new homes and shops are too expensive.

Rising house prices and rents can force members of the original community to move away.

This can break apart the social ties in an area.

To avoid this, it is important that the local community is involved in planning regeneration.

Local people know what their area needs.

Successful regeneration projects retain the unique meaning of the place for local people.

How many of those did you get? Did you get them all? Were you able to correct them? Well done.

So we're at the end of our lesson now on regenerating cities.

Let's have a little look at what we've learned today.

Cities change due to economic and social factors.

Urban regeneration is often needed when manufacturing industry declines due to dereliction.

Regeneration renews the built environment, creating homes, jobs, and services.

Big changes can leave some groups behind.

Community involvement is important in regeneration and can ensure unique features of the place are retained and represented.

Thank you for joining me for today's Geography lesson.

I've really enjoyed it, and I hope you have too.

I look forward to seeing you next time.