Llantwit Major case study

How does migration affect the
character of rural areas?
Changes for the worse
• Village stores have closed
• Post offices and banks have
closed or operate on a parttime basis
• Uneconomic public transport
routes have closed
• Ageing population and falling
school roles leads to closure of
village school
Changes for the better
• New types of shops like farm
shops have opened up
• Mini health centres have set
up in larger villages and
there are grants available for
rural GP practices
• Co-operation between some
banks and post offices to
offer a service.
Who is moving to rural areas?
• The most affluent and mobile people
• Families with children (keen to avoid the possible
disadvantages of city locations)
What are the push / pull factors?
•
•
•
•
Traffic congestion
Pollution
Fear of Crime (muggings, burglary and car theft)
Rural dream (idea of the ‘rural idyll’ – pleasant
surroundings, quiet etc.)
• Estate Agents, housing developers etc.. All encourage
outward movement through new developments / building
more houses and marketing these areas.
Counterurbanisation
What is it?
Counter-urbanisation is the movement of people
from urban areas into rural areas (leaving the
city and moving to smaller towns and villages).
There are 2 distinct trends:
1. A movement of employment to rural areas
2. A movement of people to rural areas who then
commute.
Counter-urbanisation began in many parts of
Western Europe in the 1960s in particular.
Counter-urbanisation of Cardiff
• Cardiff docks reached their peak in 1913 exporting 13.5
million tonnes of coal.
• This dropped rapidly after WWII. Coupled with the
closure of the East Moor Steelworks unemployment
rose.
• Low income, racial prejudice and ageing housing stock
lead to the bay area becoming a Zone of Discard.
• By the 1970’s and early 1980’s the outward movement
from the Bay area lead to the suburbanisation at the
urban-rural fringe.
• Beyond the fringe, in accessible, attractive rural
settlements, these urban “refugees” bought homes and
became commuters. Suburbanised villages emerged.
Cardiff bay area
1897
Can you identify the original core?
A48
Bridgend
Cowbridge
B4270
Cardiff
St. Hilary
Llandow Industrial Estate
(ex-RAF airbase)
St. Athan
village
St. Donats
Llantwit
Major
Barry
B4265
Suburbanisation of Llantwit Major
in the Vale of Glamorgan
Llantwit Major has seen significant
suburbanisation since the 1970’s. this
corresponds with an era of counter-urbanisation in
the nearby Capital city.
It is possible to identify the original core on an
O.S. map by:•The convergence of original roads and lanes
•Historic building such as churches and ruins
•The more formal layout of roads and housing in
the modern suburbs.
Historic Buildings in the original
village core.
http://www.llantwit-major.net/2004/history.shtm
St. Illtuds church
Ruined Manor house, Llantwit
Place
Why did the commuters come to
Llantwit Major
Census data since 1961 shows a steady increase in the
percentage of people employed in management and
professional roles. These commuters chose Llantwit Major
probably because of its:
1.Accessibility to Cardiff thanks to the A48 and M4.
Bridgend and Cowbridge are easy to get to.
2.Good range of services including schools, retailing,
health and leisure.
3.Availability of new housing and renovated character
properties.
4.Attractive townscape and local environment. Llantwit
Major is only 1 mile from the Glamorgan Heritage Coast
and has many sites of historic interest.
1. Accessibility
• Use a map to determine the travelling
times to nearby towns and cities.
2. Services and facilities
Llantwit Major now boasts:
• A Leisure Centre
• Two Supermarkets
• Several Primary and a Comprehensive
Schools
• A Doctors Surgery
• Library
3. Available housing
Many former barns have been
converted since the 1980’s in the
old core of Llantwit Major.
3. Available housing
The Old Malthouse
Many of today’s most desirable
homes have humble origins as the
original dwellings of rural people.
Huntsman’s
Cottage
West Farm
3. Available housing
Expensive, modern,
planned estates cater for
the majority of newcomers
to Llantwit Major.
4. Attractive local environment
Increasing employment
opportunities near Llantwit Major
• Llandow Industrial Estate is approximately
3 km north of Llantwit Major and provides
increasing numbers of employment
opportunities for the Vale of Glamorgan.
• It is built on a Brownfield site utilizing
roads and hangars from St Athan air base.
• It comprises of a trading, business and
retail units.
Attraction of Llandow Industrial
Estate for businesses
• Access is good. The A48 is 3 km away which
then allows good access to the M4 corridor.
• Brownfield site status means planning controls
are more relaxed and land is probably cheaper
compared to urban locations.
• A large pool of labour and is accessible in
nearby Llantwit Major and Cowbridge.
• Its rural location provides a more pleasant
working environment.
• Essential services are already in place.
Llandow Business Park
Llandow Trading Estate
The former RAF air traffic control tower converted to the site office.
Llandow Industrial and Retail Estate
This shows one of the old aircraft hangars that has been
converted to business use at Llandow Industrial Estate
It is built on a Brownfield site utilizing roads and hangars from an RAF air base and
comprises of a trading, business and retail units.
Brownfield site status means planning controls are more relaxed and land is
probably cheaper compared to urban locations.
RAF St Athan
was a maintenance
unit servicing RAF
bomber aircraft until
the 1980s
This was one of the old Vulcan hangars
RAF St Athan
was a maintenance
unit servicing RAF
bomber aircraft until
the 1980s
Hello from Mr
Thomas in 1971
RAF St Athan
was a maintenance
unit servicing RAF
bomber aircraft until
the 1980s
St Athan Aerospace Park today
Cowbridge more accessible than Llantwit.
But reduced housing availability has
restricted growth.
A48
Bridgend
Cowbridge
B4270
St. Donats has not
grown significantly
because of restricted
housing availability.
St. Donats
Llandow Industrial Estate
(ex-RAF airbase)
Cardiff
St. Hilary
St. Hilary has strict
planning controls on
housing development
which limited its growth.
St. Athan
village
Llantwit
Major
St. Athan’s closeness to heavy
industry has made this less
attractive to commuters.
Barry
Llantwit Major
developed due
B4265
housing availability.
How has Llantwit Major
changed?
In 1961
Llantwit
Major had a
population
of 4,243
• Households in 1961 were 1,256.
• Many of the people were retired.
•
•
•
•
By 2000 population had more than doubled to 9,000.
By 2015 it had a population of 14,000.
Households in 2015 = 5,038
The majority of people in the area are economically active.
Summary
In this case study we see that:• Counterurbanisation can lead to rural
settlements taking on more urban characteristics
with some of the negative effects:
expansion/sprawl, traffic pollution, industry.
• Rural locations like the Vale of Glamorgan are
becoming increasingly attractive for business.
• The old traditional rural life has disappeared.
Dissatisfaction with Counterurbanisation
Environmental concern about
urban sprawl means people
are moving back to the city.
This could be due to journey
times or a preference for city
life.
Developers are providing
measures to deal with
problems in inner cities,
security, town houses etc.