UK City: Sheffield

• What is Sheffields population?

  585,000
• Why is Sheffield nationally important?

  • Largely contributed to the steel industry during the industrial revolution.
  • 2 Universities
  • 2 Football teams
  • Headquarters of many major businesses
  • Held Snooker World Championships
• How has international migration impacted Sheffield?

  • Enriched the cities cultural life, for example Sharrow Festival: An annual summer festival which celebrates many cultures within the city -> brings communities together, positive social impact.
• How has national migration impacted Sheffield?

  • National migration has caused Sheffield to undergo the process of studentification. Due to its 2 universities, Sheffields student population is growing, ultimately increasing the amount of cheap student rentals, e.f Eccesall.
  • These rentals aren't always well maintained, student party culture has caused conflict between the elderly and students.
• What are urban changes?

  Any change in an urban area wether it's to do with incline or decline.
• Name the three urban changes Sheffield has undergone.

  Migration, Increase in standards of living, De-Industrialisation.
• How has an increased standard of living impacted Sheffield?

  An increased standard of living means an increase in the ownerhip of cars and an increase in the proportion of waste (possibly due to the amount of things people can buy due to their steady incomes)
• How has De-Industrialisation caused urban change in Sheffield?

  • Caused many factory closures in the inner city and around Loxley Valley.
  • Leading to high levels of unemployment and low income (social + economic challenges to urban change)
• What social opportunities did urban change create?

  • Cultural Mix: Opening of several hundred restaurants in the city respresenting its different nationalities (income)
  • Recreation and Entertainment: several large entertainment, music and sporting venues; museums.
  • Employment: Seen shift towards tertiary and quaternary employment sectors due to cities young age profile (students)
  • Integrated Transport Systems: Improved public transport networks in an attempt to make them all accessible through one transferable ticket.
• What does an integrated transport system refer to?

  It refers to a social opportunity in Sheffield caused by urban change. It consists of improving public transport networks in an attempt to join other networks together and make them accessible through one transferable ticket.
• What environmental opportunities has urban change brought to Sheffield?

  • Urban Greening: parks such as the Botanical gardens, winter gardens, and peace gardens have been used to provide the city with environmental opportunities.
• What environmental challenges has urban change created?

  • Deriliction: Due to de-industrialisation, many former industrial buildings were abandoned and left cuasing visual pollution and attracts crime.
  • Waste: Due to growing population, more waste is being sent to landfill or sent to be incinerated, causing more air pollution.
• What is urban deprivation?

  When a community has a standard of living below the majority of people in a society.
• What is one social problem caused by de-industrialisation?

  Unemployment due to decline of steel industry
• How does de-industrialisation affect housing quality?

  It leads to poor quality housing for many
• What does the decline of the steel industry highlight in urban areas?

  It highlights inequality between different areas
• What is urban deprivation?

  Lower standard of living in inner cities
• What is an example of an area affected by urban deprivation?

  Darnall
• What are the social and economic problems caused by urban change?

  • De-Industrialisation:
  • Unemployment from steel industry decline
  • Poor quality housing and low education levels
  • Inequality between areas like Dore and Totley
  • Urban Deprivation:
  • Poorer living standards in inner cities
  • Impact on migrants with qualifications
  • Example area: Darnall
• What is an urban regeneration project?

  The targeted use of public or private funding to regenerate a specific area of town or city.
• What was the name of Sheffields urban regeneration project?

  The Heart of the City
• Why was the Heart of the City regeneration project needed?

  • City wide issues with deprivation (urban deprivation, e.g Darnall, where standards of living were lower than majority)
  • Construction of Meadowhall in 1990 diverted shoppers away from city centre
  • Decline of steel industry in the 1980's resulted in a lack of investment into the city
• What did the Heart of the City regeneration scheme consist of?

  • Created 700 new jobs
  • 120 million pound investment
  • New civic and cultural facilities
  • Investment in winter gardens, peace gardens and Millenium gallery, office spaces, hotels, apartments, hospitality and retail.
  • Increase visitor numbers and boost citys economy
• What were the criticisms of the Heart of the City regeneration scheme?


  • Porject is not due to be completed until 2026
  • Meadowhall recently recieved a 300 million pound investment to extend centre
• In cities, huge quantities of water and energy are consumed, waste disposal and traffic congestion are also problems. These problems can be tackled by cities by becoming more sustainable to reduce the harsh environmental impacts of these issues
• How has Freiburg conserved energy and water supplies to be sustainable?

  • Rainwater harvsted for flushing toilets
  • Pervious pavements that allow water to soak through
  • Targets 100% renewable energy by 2050 through reducing consumption and 400 solar installations.
• How does Freiburg recycle waste to be more sustainable?

  • Over 88% of packaging waste is recycled
  • Incineration provides energy for 28,000 homes
  • 350 community recycling points
• How has Freiburg created more green space to be more sustainable?


  • 40% of city is forested - wood is used for building but 75% grows back within a year
  • 44,000 native trees and shrubs planted in parks and streets
• What urban transport strategies has Freiburg used to become more sustainable?

  • Tram porviding cheap, efficient, and accessible public transport - low fares and concert/sport/ event tickets come with free tram ticket.
  • 400km cycle paths
  • 20,000 pounds for parking spaces