The document summarizes the characteristics and causes of decline in inner cities. It notes that inner cities experienced high population out migration, many abandoned buildings and shops, closing schools, high unemployment and crime. This decline was caused by deindustrialization which led to job losses, and the more affluent residents moving away in search of better homes and opportunities, leaving behind urban blight, derelict buildings and poor housing.

1. The Inner City
Characteristics
&
Causes of inner city decline

3. Characteristics
 High population out migration figures
 Many boarded up shops
 Many empty & derelict properties
 The closing of schools & low levels of
education
 High levels of unemployment
 High incidences of crime, vandalism &
graffiti
 Low levels of participation in local
democracy

4. Causes of inner city
decline
 A) Deindustrialisation – between 1960-81
1.6mn manufacturing jobs were lost in
major urban areas.
 This led to unemployment in inner city areas
of former industrial regions of Liverpool,
Sheffield, Glasgow….
 Unemployment was very high among the
poorly skilled and ethnic minorities.

5.  B) Population loss & social decline
– the more skilled & affluent people
moved to search for better
employment opportunities, they also
desired larger houses with open space,
and now the countryside was more
easily accessible.

6. Poor physical
environment
 Low quality housing
 Derelict properties
 Vacant factories
 Unsightly overgrown wasteland
 Vandalism, graffiti.
 Few amenities, such as parks or play areas.
 Bleak concrete dominated landscape, with
urban motorways & flyovers.

7. What would it be like
to live in these tower
blocks?

8. Inner city high rise
developments
 They lacked a community feel
 They were poorly ventilated & suffered from
damp
 Expensive to heat
 Poorly designed open spaces – no one cared
– vandalism
 Poorly designed led to ‘hidden paces’ where
hooliganism & criminal activity took place.
Many have now been demolished.