Reading Summary from the iGCSE revision pack

Land Use: ReadingLand use Location(s) Explanation

Residential 1. CBD = gentrification + attempts to rejuvenate Reading, high quality, + high density housing found i.e. Privately owned/developed modern high rise flats next to Oracle

2. Inner city = Terraced housing occurs mainly nearest the CBD, mixed with other lower quality council housing (high rise flats) along main industry roads. (heralding back to when accessibility was more crucial, and less accessible itself)e.g. New Town to the East (Asian community), Oxford Rd = West = Afro/Caribbean

3. Some areas of gentrification inside city, with terraced and semi-detached housing seen together.

4. Edges of the urban area, away from areas of industry, located close to services and transport links (rail/road) are suburban clusters e.g. Earley.

5. New housing developments taking place on brownfield sites. E.g. Kennet Island n. of Madjeski, jct. 11

6. Low quality housing area around Reading uni for poor students.e.g. White Knights

• Changed over time with the city itself and the desires of its populace.

• During the industrial revolution, factory workers would have needed to have easy access to their workplace in the CBD, hence the terraced housing still left over from that era.

• Manufacturing moved away from CBDs = derelict → modern day regeneration =

• High rise flats in CBD, • housing developments on rurban fringe, Oracle

shopping centre etc)• Gentrification in twilight zone and towards the

edge of the city o = people who have previously moved out of the city or first time buyers seek cheap housing in the city that they can renovate,(reurbanisation) which itself multiplies the effect.

• Infilling on Victorian properties with spacious gardens, or equipped below modern standards.

• Suburbanisation those able to afford it moving away from the city centre into private housing, low in services, high in residential. e.g. Earley

Industry Located mainly along 3 main roads: Basingstoke Road e.g. Gillette factory, A323 and A4, leading into CBD. Services located in CBD (Oracle) and out of town around suburbs e.g. offices, hi-tech, Courage.

Accessibility → industry needed transport links to ship goods inc. Kennet & Avon canal, and now requires transport links for out of town, or suburban commuters, e.g. To the business parks. Businesses are relocating back to the CBD as manufacturing (more out of town) becomes less and less prevalent.

CBD, new services and modern high density flats. E.g. Oracle

Industrial area, mostly council flats and terraced housing e.g. Oxford Rd

‘Twilight Zone, terraced housing e.g. Oxford Rd

Industrial brownfield zone, majority terraced housing with some gentrification e.g. Kennet Island

New housing development (in partnership with local government to encourage rejuvenation of Reading) e. g. Tilehurst

Industrial area, mostly council flats and terraced housing e.g. New Town

Reading university located near affordable housing i.e. White Knights

Higher quality, semi-detached housing moving out from CBD, examples of gentrification and infilling.

Privately developed suburbs. E.g. Lower Earley

Reading follows Hoyt’s model of a city, but with an additional industrial sector, rather than one for higher quality housing, which is located around the city as suburbs.

Ethnic & Social groups: Reading Map Ethnic Group Distribution

White • White population > all other census ethnic categories in number in Reading.

• Highest out to N. (Caversham) & W. (Tilehurst) = most expensive housing in the suburbs.

• Much lower population occupying the cheap inner city housing around the CBD and in the less expensive southern and western suburbs (Southcote & Calcot). As they are generally richer than the others, they can buy the large, detached properties.

Afro-Caribbean

• Afro-Caribbean = 3rd largest in Reading• Highest in central W. (Battle) = near the Reading West train station. • Occupy the cheaper, inner city terrace housing W. nearer to the CBD,

declining from the centre. • Low transferable work skills forces them into the lowest quality

housing in these areas. • Very small presence north of the river (Caversham)

Map Ethnic Group Distribution

Asian • Asian = smallest ethnic population in Reading. • Highest = Inner city E. (New Town & Park)• Very low population in the suburbs, especially N.(Caversham) & W

(Tilehurst)• Cheaper housing near to the University (White Knights) is preferred,

coupled with student accommodation

Mixed • Mixed race = 2nd largest ethnic group in Reading • Equably spread except N. (Caversham) and W. (Tilehurst)• Mixed population = southern suburbs (Lower Earley) = visibly

cheaper housing then N. (Caversham)

Ethnic & Social groups: Reading

HIC urban area change: ReadingCBD & Inner City• Reading Development- Inner distribution road (IDR)was made to take traffic away from

CBD, never finished and traffic in Reading is still congested. Closed off Broad street to all and encouraged banks to relocate there.

• Friar street- pedestrianised and main entertainment area with new pubs and clubs.• The Oracle- large area of CBD demolished for shopping centre, car park and Warner

cinema. Near river with cafes making area attractive = mix of leisure and retail• Rose Kiln Flats- example of a Brownfield site that's being redeveloped.

Junction 11 – Edge of CIty• Reading Gate- out of town shopping centre built on a Greenfield site next to the

rural-urban fringe, located next to junction 11 of M4. B&Q, Comet, McDonalds. Next to Madejski stadium for continuous money flow.

• Madejski stadium- Reading FC relocated from Elm Park in the inner city to a Greenfield site on the edge of city. Plus London Irish & Concert venue = Leisure and tertiary services. Next to Junction 11.

• International Business Park- Business park next to Junction 11, close to M25, M4 plus public transport, has its own integrated transport = accessibility. Landscaped Car Park, Lake , Crèche, Health Club, amenities: BHS, Hilton, Madejski Millennium and Holiday Inn hence a hence quality of life. T-mobile, Harley Davidson, Wiley, Oxfam, Orange and Verizon.

• Green Park- business/science park based around a water feature (high qulity of working conditions). Close to Reading University (esp.IT & Robotics); Creche, Health club, centre for conferences. (under developed as too much business space in Reading)

• Courage Brewery- Built on a green field site, in 1978 and closed April 2010. there was consolidation in the brewing industry and now fewer but much larger enterprises are being built.

• South side Reading- Reading Gateway development, the urban planners and architects SCOTT BROWNRIGG = a plan for Reading Borough Council & local politicians. Extension of residential and business. Links in with fast track buses. 1000 dwellings with hotel, retail park & leisure space.

• Kennet island- housing development, first properties sold in 2007 and still being developed, part of the development is covered by a government backed initiative for Key Workers (public servants such as nurses and policemen)