Rural areas in the UK have seen significant changes due to improvements in transport and technology. Villages have grown rapidly due to an influx of commuters, losing their original character. For example, Gower Village has become suburbanized. Second homes provide both advantages through economic benefits but also disadvantages like increased housing prices and traffic. Rural depopulation is an issue as seen in the remote Scottish island of Iona, which has faced a declining population, aging demographics, and lack of jobs and services for youth.

1. RURAL SETTLEMENT
CHANGES AND ISSUES IN
THE UK
Lesson 7

2. Key factors explaining changes
in UK rural areas:
• Improvements in transport
• Increased standards of living
• Decreased size of households

4. • Industries and retailing
are moving to rural
areas…
• Three important factors:
1. Dissatisfaction of urban
lifestyles
2. Increase in car ownership
3. Improving technology
which allows industries
to become ‘footloose’

6. • Many villages have grown at alarming
rates and have lost their original character,
form and function. These are often
described as dormitory, commuter or
suburbanised villages. A good example is
the GOWER Village.

7. OLD GOWER VILLAGE

10. Disadvantages of second homes:
• House and land price escalate
• Conflict between permanent population and temporary
population
• Roads become congested
• Driving is hazardous and there is an increase number of
accidents
• Local environment will be deteriorate
• New buildings may not fit into local surroundings such as
Swiss-style chalets in Snowdonia

12. Advantages of second homes:
• Economic development of backward rural areas
• Taxes from second homes helps to support local
services
• The competition between second home owners
and young people may not as great as generally
assumed. Most second home owners require an
isolated home without electricity or a bath so
that they can renovate it.

13. IONA - SCOTLAND

14. IONA - SCOTLAND
• A remote island off west coast of scotland
• Rural communities are experiencing rural depopulation
• 1980s – population fell by 40%
• Severe shortage of jobs – unemployment rates are high
• Difficult to attract young people and migrants to the island
• Traditional industries such as fishing and farming are
gradually being eroded

15. • Iona’s scenario is totally different from Gower
Peninsula in Wales which is experiencing
Repopulation. The village has seen in-migration of
young couples who work outside village.

17. • Population in Iona is ageing
• Over 40% community is over age of 60 years
• 1999 – there were only 4 children in the island school
• Few facilities
• No high demand for services

18. Noting activities
• Read case study: Development pressures in
Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire (pg 166, Ross)
• Answer question 1 & 2 (Pg 167, Ross)