COUNTER-URBANISATION CASE STUDY – CUTNALL GREEN, WORCESTERSHIRE, UK
Summary
Counter-urbanisation occurs when people decide to move out of towns and settle in villages. Increased car ownership (80% have one car, 33% two or more), improved roads and rail links to urban areas and increased personal income means commuting is now possible. Improving technology will enable people to work from home and therefore no longer need them to live within commuting distance of urban areas. Cutnall Green is a village, 10km South East of Kidderminster and less than an hour’s drive from Birmingham, whose population has grown from 300 to 400 in 5 years.
Causes
Push Factors
Shortage of attractive/affordable homes in urban areas.
Congestion /Pollution
Fear of crime
Poor quality city schools.
Pull Factors
“Quieter” life.
Affordable old buildings to renovate.
Clean air
Better environment for children.
Houses for retirement.
Access to countryside
Consequences
Positive
New services to supply growing population (eg small supermarkets, restaurants, antique shops)
Migrants bring their businesses with them creating employment.
Landowners can sell land to developers.
House owners benefit from increased value of their property.
Negative
Village becoming “dormitory settlements”
Loss of community spirit
Loss of local shops in villages (incomers use cars/supermarkets, second homes empty for long periods)
New housing has changed character of village (“suburbanised”)
Green Belt land being built on.
Pollution (noise, air and visual)
Has caused conflicts
Conflicts
Between developers and environmental protection groups.
Between existing villagers with the new inhabitants (who isolate themselves from local activities)
Between existing young villages and new inhabitants (who push up house prices making it difficult for first-time buyers).
Between farm vehicles and commuter traffic.
COUNTER-URBANISATION CASE STUDY – CUTNALL GREEN, WORCESTERSHIRE, UK...