Birmingham is England's second largest city, with a population of 1.1 million people located in the West Midlands region of the UK. It sits on a south facing sandstone ridge overlooking the River Rea. Birmingham has strong connectivity via a network of canals historically and four surrounding motorways today, making it a major transportation hub and center of industry within the UK and globally.

1. Case Study: Birmingham
The site, situation and connectivity of
Birmingham influence its function and structure

2. 1. What is the national, regional and
global context of Birmingham?
• Birmingham has a population of 1.1 million
people. England's second largest city.
• It is in the West
Midlands of the UK.

3. 1. What is the national, regional and
global context of Birmingham?
• Birmingham has a population of 1.1 million
people. England's second largest city.
• It is in the West
Midlands of the UK.

4. 1. What is the national, regional and
global context of Birmingham?
• Regionally it is in the north west of Europe
(north of France and west of Germany).

5. 1. What is the national, regional and
global context of Birmingham?
• Globally it is east of Canada in North
America and West of Russia in Asia

6. 2. Site of Birmingham
• Site – the actual location of the settlement
and the physical characteristics at this
point.
• Birmingham grew up as a dry point site (i.e.
not on a river).
• It was on a south facing, sandstone ridge.

7. 2. Site of Birmingham

8. 3. Situation of Birmingham
• Situation – the location of a place in relation
to its surroundings and other places
• It overlooked a crossing on the River Rea.
• It is centrally placed in the UK.
• Four motorways surround Birmingham in a
square shape. Including the M40 which goes
to London.
• Birmingham is west of Leicester (by 35
miles) and south of stoke on Trent (by 40
miles)

9. 4. Connectivity of
Birmingham
• The canal network had been built across the
city to help transport raw materials and
produce across the city.
• The city historically has been famous for
its, jewellery making, gun trade and car
manufacturing.
• Today it is at the heart of the country and
is a major global centre.

10. 4. Connectivity of
Birmingham
a. Motorways

11. 4. Connectivity of
Birmingham
b. Birmingham
International
Airport

12. c. Trains
Birmingham New
Street Station
4. Connectivity of
Birmingham

13. Your turn – you choose!
1. Voice over
Imagine you are
reporting on the
site, situation and
connectivity of
Birmingham as a
news report
In groups of 4, 2 of
you sit facing each
other and have a
silent conversation,
while the other 2
say the words.
Try to keep your
lips in time with the
words from the
other person.
2. Video of
errors
Make a video of
the site, situation
and connectivity
of Birmingham as
a news report
Include
deliberate
mistakes and the
class has to spot
how many
‘mistakes’ you
have made!
3. Fake Phone
Text
Use the Fake
Phone Text
website to have a
text conversation
about
Birmingham's site,
situation and
connectivity.
Screen shot and
print it all off for
HW, then stick it
in

14. Plenary
• Just a minute
• Talk to your neighbour without saying umm
or err on the topic of …
•Birmingham