Counterurbanisation, a decision making exercise
The Expansion of Farleigh
The fictional village of Farleigh expanded in 2000 with 120 new houses being built on the Ticknell
Green Estate. The Local Government now want to build another 80 new houses at Dancers Hill.
Before a decision is made about granting planning permission the residents and businesses of
Farleigh have the opportunity to put forward their opinions about this new development at a
public meeting.
Your task is to read through their comments and decide:
1. Are the people interviewed for or against the development
2. What positive/negative reasons they give
Your answers need to be completed in the correct table.
1. Pub Landlord
‘I was very excited about the expansion of the village and I supported the new
Ticknell Green estate because I thought it would bring me more business.
But, very few of the new people in the village work here, they all drive to the
nearby towns or the big city for work. Because they work long hours they
don’t come to my pub very often. I hoped that I might get more business on
Friday evenings but these city workers seem to stay in the city to go to the
bars and restaurants there. I’m not sure that I will be supporting the new
Dancers Hill development.’
2. Newsagent
‘The new residents of the Ticknell Green estate have helped me to keep
my business going. I have had to change my stock slightly, I now sell
more sweets for the local children, but business is booming. I would
definitely welcome the Dancers Hill development.’
3. Head teacher of the Primary School
‘Since the Ticknell Green estate was built we have had to build two more
classrooms. This has meant that we have grown as a school and are now
getting more funding from the government so we can buy more modern
technology. We have also been able to employ 3 more staff, all of which is
good for the local economy. I will be backing the Dancers Hill development.’
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4. Estate Agent
‘With all these new houses business is booming. I have been able
to expand my office and employ another person to help me. I will
definitely be backing the Dancers Hill development.’
5. Local Farmer
‘I used to own the land that the Ticknell Green estate was built on, they
were my pig fields. I got paid a good amount for the land by the
developers, but I have since seen how much the houses are selling for.
I had hoped that my son would be able to afford to buy or rent a house
on the estate but the prices are so high he can’t. I have heard that the
prices are going to be even higher for the houses on the Dancers Hill
development. The new development is also right next to my best
wheat field, I’m worried what impact having lots of buildings and tarmac
there will have on the crops in the field. I will not be backing the new development.’
6. Retired Person
‘Since the Ticknell Green estate was built I have noticed that the village is a
lot quieter during the day. Many original local people and their families
have moved away because the house prices and rents became so high.
Most of the new people that live here work far away and only come
back here to sleep. People don’t know each other here anymore; I
used to know everyone now most people are strangers. I think
Farleigh has lost its character with the expansion and I will not be
backing the Dancers Hill development.’
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Counterurbanisation, a decision making exercise
7. Environmentalist
‘The Dancers Hill site has beautiful views across the green Cotswold valleys;
building on it would destroy this view forever. It is also currently an area
where wild flowers grow and animals including field mice and voles thrive.
Building on this site would have a detrimental impact on the environment.’
8. Young Family
‘We live next to the Dancers Hill development site and are worried
about the amount of time it will take to build. We have very young
children and the noise of construction will interrupt their sleeping.
Once the development is built there will also be more traffic on the
road which brings more potential danger for our children. We will
not be supporting the new development.’
9. Year 10 Pupil
‘I’ve lived here all my life and until they built the new houses there
were very few people living in the village. Since the Ticknell Green
estate was built there have been far more young people my age to
hang around with. There still aren’t enough teenagers for there to
be a secondary school here, I have to get the bus to Glidden to go
to school. If they build the new houses, there might be even more
people my age. They have also said that they might build a skate
park when they build the new houses, which would be cool!’
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Counterurbanisation, a decision making exercise
People for the development
Person
Reasons
People against the development
Person
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Reasons
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Official report on the expansion of Farleigh,
You are to write an official report to the senior council officer in charge of the case giving your
suggestions based on all the evidence that you have received. It should be no more than 1 page so
keep it concise!
The report must follow a specific structure:
Paragraph 1
Introduction
Introduce the development; include facts about what the plans are.
Paragraph 2
Social Impact
Describe the positive and negative impacts.
Weigh them up and decide which case is stronger.
Paragraph 3
Demographic Impacts
Describe the positive and negative impacts.
Weigh them up and decide which case is stronger.
Paragraph 4
Economic Impacts
Describe the positive and negative impacts.
Weigh them up and decide which case is stronger.
Paragraph 5
Environmental Impacts
Describe the positive and negative impacts.
Weigh them up and decide which case is stronger.
Paragraph 6
Conclusion
Say whether there are more positives or negatives.
Say what you would recommend.
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Counterurbanisation, a decision making exercise
Teaching notes
Provide the class with the instructions.
Give each pair one of the laminated cards, get the pairs to keep swapping the cards until they have
read them all.
Answers
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
More business in the newsagent
Less business for the pub
More school children
House prices
More jobs
Damage to farmland
More estate agent work
Loss of community
More young people
Habitat loss
New social areas
Environmental damage
Increased noise
Increased road danger
People For
People Against
Newsagent
Pub Landlord
Head teacher
Environmentalist
Estate Agent
Farmer
Year 10 pupil
Retired Person
Young Family
Extension tasks
•
•
•
Students are asked to provide additional character cards e.g. a local
builder, a mechanic in the local garage and the local quarry owner.
Using ICT, students prepare a newspaper front page reporting the
planning decision.
Students use local knowledge to note similarities and differences between
this fictional example and a local urban expansion.
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