Investigating the Structure and Characteristics of the Population in Canterbury - Coursework Example

GEOGRAPHY Investigating the Structure and Characteristics of the Population and Settlement in two contrasting urban locations in Canterbury Introduction The purpose of this research work aims at investigating the relationship between the location and quality of housing in two cities of Canterbury, in the United Kingdom. This will identify the number of homes as well as the business premises that ultimately affect the population of Canterbury and the quality of those within the identified areas with regard to quality of healthcare. Canterbury is located at 51°16′30″N 1°05′13″E (51.275, 1.087) in east Kent and is about 55 miles east-southeast of London (Ross, Morgan and Heelas, 2000). Its coastal towns include the towns of Herne Bay and Whitstable, which are 6 miles to the north and Faversham, which is 8 miles to the northwest and a rural hinterland that is sparsely populated. Our first hypothesis would be that one, as distance increases towards city centre, the size of houses and buildings decreases. Two, the quality of the environment and housing improves when one travels further from Canterbury city centre. Three, the Null Hypothesis is that there is no significant correlation between size of housing and environmental quality and distance from city centre. Land use changes as one travels towards the city centre or retail quality decreases away from the centre of Canterbury. The analysis in this section focused on the distribution of housing as measured against the population and by implication the community infrastructure that comes with it as well as the land use. The Burgess land use model is based on the idea that land values get higher as one move to the centre of the city and in these places there is low-population density and sparse developments (Gamba and Herold, 2009). In this study, there will be an investigation of how the settlement changes in the urban areas of Canterbury from the Central Business District to the urban rural fringes in terms of services, housing, open space as well as the transport links and how they affect the quality of housing in these areas (International Geographical Union and Lois, 2006). It also looks at the type of settlements and their characteristics, that is, the villages and the services there, the population structure and the types of services available to them in line with the Burgess model of land use. Methodology The nature of the research problem, namely, the need to investigate the relationship between the location and quality of housing in two cities of Canterbury indicate that the approach for carrying out this study will be through the sampling technique. The sampling technique will include investigating the whole population of Canterbury by gathering data from a smaller portion of the population of the City of Canterbury and using it to have an idea on what picture the whole population shows concerning the structure of population and settlement. We have adopted the sampling technique since it has numerous advantages such as being cheap, consumes less time, and is not labour intensive as well as the fact that equipment for sampling can easily access the site of the sample that is located within the larger population (Sahu, 2013). Therefore, our sampling technique will be the best strategy as it enables us to obtain a representative and statistically valid sample of the whole population or area of study in this case Canterbury. Having done the basis of the theoretical outlook of this work, it is necessary to show how evidence will be collected to support the hypotheses in this work. To prove my hypotheses I collected a data, such as photographs and information on height of the buildings. I made a survey and asked two people about their attitude to sight 2, as they live there. I asked them about their insights on pollution from their own opinion and how they perceive it in relation to their distance from the city centre. I identified buildings on the map and wrote their purpose and number of floors. I took some photos and drew some sketches of buildings, commenting on their features. The methodology that I used can be claimed as effective as it clearly shows the differences between parts of the city. By differences in infrastructure, population, type of building, proximity to shops and public transport, we can identify the type of the district that we are studying. It can be a dormitory area or a luxury district or even a business centre, we could easily understand it by marking the features of this district, as I did. I used systematic sampling, as it is the easiest way to investigate differences between these two areas. Data Presentation and Analysis Before the analysis of data, it is important to obtain it and present it in a manner that the persons who will use the information trust in it. It is important to get the accurate assessment of the situation so that there is a better understanding of the information that has been collected and in this context may include the quantitative data or the qualitative data. The quantitative data involves the collection of numbers or in forms other than numbers but must be converted to numbers and later subjected to a calculation or estimation. This may also change in dependent variables and may allow the comparison of the variables as well identify the relationships of the variables. In our study of the quality of housing in Canterbury, from the social angle, we will collect data on the level of disposable incomes or the purchasing power of different samples of the population and the typical shopping basket value when one shops from the local shops in their areas. Economically, the data will be collected on the rates or unemployment range as well as the type of the unemployment as while environmentally, the information collected will be the quantity and the level of littering in a given area. Quantitative research is concerned with testing hypotheses derived from theory and/or being able to estimate the size of a phenomenon of interest and depending on the research question; participants may be randomly assigned to different categorization. If this is not feasible, the researcher may collect data on participant and situational characteristics in order to statistically control for their influence on the dependent, or outcome, variable as the analysis of the sample will be done based on this. If the intent is to generalize from the research participants to a larger population, the researcher will employ probability sampling to select participants for the collection of data for quantity purposes. The quantitative data will be obtained through observing and the recording of the desired information on the population and settlements in the chosen areas of settlement. The qualitative data will help in the evaluation of the impact of the recorded phenomena, as they will provide information helpful in understanding the processes and reasons behind the manner of the quantitative data and help in improving the quality of survey-based quantitative evaluations and the chosen hypotheses. The qualitative data are open-ended in nature, are less structured, and may use triangulation to increase accuracy and credibility. In our case, the qualitative method adopted is the observation method and review of documents that are provided by the City Council of Canterbury. Socially, our work will explore the type of cars driven by the residents of the sample area, the clothing worn by the residents and how they dress mainly through observation and the taking of photographs. Economically, there shall be collection and evaluation of the data in terms of the general feel of the area under sample through photographic evidence. Environmentally, there is an evaluation of the data on the level of cleanliness of the sample areas and how safe the neighbourhood is as well as the comparable level of pollution of the areas. From the data that has been collected, we find that the more you move from the Central Business District of the City of Canterbury, the sizes of houses and buildings increases while the quality of the environment and housing improves the further you travel from Canterbury city centre. It also shows that as you travel towards the city centre the land use changes and the retail quality decreases away from the centre of the City of Canterbury. Analysis The District of Canterbury including the City of Canterbury and the coastal settlements of Herne Bay, Whistable and the rural hinterland had a population estimated at 147, 700 as at 2011 and 61, 775 households. Due to the structure of this population, most of the increases are due to migration into the city mostly for education at the universities such as the University of Kent with a population of about 20, 000 students. Other universities and institutions of higher learning including Canterbury Christ Church University with about 15, 000 students, the University College for the Creative Arts and the Girne American University amongst other institutions. According to the government housing statistics presented by the HSSA, there are about 3290 people in need of affordable housing in Canterbury while Kent County Council operates a choice based lettings system for social housing where it states that as at 2011, there were about 2, 352 who are in need. Further, the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) estimates that 77 % of newly instituted households in the City of Canterbury cannot afford to pay rent or buy a house. This implies that there is need for 1, 104 dwellings per year in the period of ten years showing a glaring need to meet the housing demands in the urban centres of Canterbury and is set to grow substantially in the coming years.(Canterbury City Council, 2012). In investigating the structure of the population and settlement in Canterbury and its urban centers, it is important to note that the areas far from the city are usually preferred areas for retirement especially the coastal towns of Herne Bay and Whitstable as well as the rural parts (Yates, 2001). Most of these older people prefer to settle further away in the coastal towns and often their housing is of the best quality and expansive. This is quite in contrast to the conversion of homes just on the periphery of the city into homes that show that there are multiple houses concentrated mainly in wards. Most of the CBD is occupied by office accommodation and for local businesses and little space for human settlement that confirms our first hypothesis that shows that there will be few buildings as you move towards the city centre (Canterbury City Council (October, 2013). The areas of Herne Bay and Whitstable provide the land for settlements and homes for those who settle far away from the city as the land within the city is reserved for land office space for the working class and local firms offering employment opportunities. The areas of Herne Bay and Whitstable are also well served by transport network enabling it to establish as a commuter village as the people can commute to work allowing the developments some distance from the edge of the urban area. Through urban regeneration and gentrification, the areas around Canterbury have converted some areas that were either considered low class into expensive housing that is of the desirable quality and this explains the low number of residential buildings within the city centre. The distance from the CBD and the urban areas therefore affect the transport system and ultimately explains why most people prefer to be nearer the CBD due to ease of access. In the urban areas of Canterbury, there are areas there are dwellings requiring modest space for office development and accommodation of the working and school going population. In terms of land use, there is need for the generation of surpluses in industrial and commercial space that explains the continued movement of the population to Herne Bay and Whitstable. The socio-economic status of the population mainly the student population and the need for them to be near the campuses situated within the Central Business District (CBD) have contributed to their outburst in terms of population. This is due to the quality of housing in these areas and shorter commuting hours, which shows that commuting hours and housing is the key determining the settlement pattern. The data collected also confirms our third hypothesis as land use changes as you travel towards the city centre and the retail quality decreases away from the centre of Canterbury. The large number of retail outlets concentrated within the city centre while there are few of such as you move far away from the city shows this. The implication of this is that purchasing power increases as you move further towards the city centre of Canterbury and the value of any basketful of commodities or a service will be higher nearer the Central Business District as compared to the outskirts of Canterbury. Conclusion According to the Burgess model of urban growth, which includes the expansion, and the reconversion of the uses of land, the inner zones always expand towards the outer zones that lead to the creation of a transition zone with the reconversion of the uses of the land. Within the Central Business District of Canterbury, there is quality but expensive houses that mainly house offices, institutions or universities are located within this area. This area also has a low population due to the limited housing in the area and has industrial or manufacturing activities. There are residential areas or zone dominated by the working population or those who cannot find housing within the confines of or just outside the Central Business District (CBD). The data collected and analyzed show that the majority of the populations are in the areas around Herne Bay and Whitstable and even the hinterlands. The areas around these two urban coastal cities offer housing for the members of the population who mostly prefer to have quiet and quality neighbourhoods, while others use them as holiday homes. In some areas and the hinterlands of Canterbury, there is quality housing that is explained by the longer costs of commuting and those areas and in most instances have fewer populations. There are a wide range of factors that affect the population and settlement in the urban areas of Canterbury in terms of the housing and its quality. Weighing upon the implications of constrained quality of housing are such factor such as rising affordability, pressures in the housing market and the knock-on implications on the population. In attractive locations such as the Central Business District of Canterbury, the demand and supply ultimately affects the quality of the housing for the settlement. The residents of Canterbury while not preventing the migration of people still have problems affording the housing mostly concentrated within the areas just after the city in Herne Bay and Whitstable. This clearly shows that the population of the urban areas of Canterbury will be concentrated outside the city where affordable housing is available owned by either the government or the privately owned. In summary, the urban centers of Canterbury including Herne Bay and Whitstable are quite distinct from each other in one way or the other but the underlying population settlement pattern usually seem to be the same or remarkably similar. Each of these urban centers has large population settlements at its core, and is always situated at a transport hub or where major transport connections. The residential districts surround the few available or remaining industries and are located far away from the city centre. In the main city of Canterbury and its surrounding areas, the minimal settlement of human population can be attributed to the high number of population staying away from the city in Herne Bay and Whitstable lending credence to the Burgess model of land use. When it comes to the environmental factors, the areas far away from the city are more preferred for settlement as they are relatively cleaner than the city centre and do not suffer the chocking effects of pollution that dogs the Central Business District. References Canterbury City Council. (2010). Lettings Policy and Housing Need Register. Housing Options and Interventions. Canterbury. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCYQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.canterbury.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F214693%2Fhnr-information-policy 2010.pdf&ei=D7r8UrLyMIHAhAfT44CADw&usg=AFQjCNHDIgCLd4Vhic0vcVLyTDUZ_GSKrg&sig2=qoARYeXLt7MdmDCalW7gXA&bvm=bv.61190604,d.bGQ Canterbury City Council. (February 2011). Review of Canterbury Futures Study: At a Crossroads.Canterbury. Experian Plc 2010. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCYQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.canterbury.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F511457%2FCanterburyFuturesWorkReview.pdf&ei=dbr8UtiNBpGihgez8YHgDw&usg=AFQjCNFSSqdG6tdRwTGOu0YZWz2D0NKxXQ&sig2=7m42X9ADpJB4T1XYt3j27Q&bvm=bv.61190604,d.bGQ Canterbury City Council. (January 2012). Canterbury Development Requirements Study Final Report. London. Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCYQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.canterbury.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F511441%2FCanterburyDevelopmentRequirementsStudy.pdf&ei=0rr8UvGjJM-ThQeIi4AI&usg=AFQjCNEf19P_Bf4oGPy3sm_aVW_CEN1hPQ&sig2=lHRIADSyKMqSdZm-hSfOww&bvm=bv.61190604,d.bGQ Canterbury City Council (October 2013).Commercial Information Audit Statistical Report 2012/2013.Business Intelligence Report. Canterbury. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=9&cad=rja&ved=0CGoQFjAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fshareweb.kent.gov.uk%2FDocuments%2Ffacts-and-figures%2FCommercial%2520land%2520use%2Fca-cia-2012-13.pdf&ei=75r8UuDsAdLT7Abf9YDgBQ&usg=AFQjCNGcipczt22vYfpaf6n64d12X3vzjw&sig2=puAdwsWcIfeN5ddVmhZAdQ Gamba, P., & Herold, M. (2009). Global mapping of human settlement: Experiences, datasets, and prospects. Boca Raton: CRC Press International Geographical Union., & Lois, G. R. C. (2006). Urban changes in different scales: Systems and structures. Santiago de Compostela: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Ross, S., Morgan, J., & Heelas, R. (2000). Essential AS geography. Cheltenham: S. Thornes Sahu, P. K. (2013). Research methodology: A guide for researchers in agricultural science, social science and other related fields. New Delhi: Springer.< http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=vdtEAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA46&dq=sampling+technique+is+cheap,takes+less+time+and+labour&hl=en&sa=X&ei=JJb8UvGOMMqf7AaHjoFg&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=sampling%20technique%20is%20cheap%2Ctakes%20less%20time%20and%20labour&f=false> Yates, N. (2001). Kent in the twentieth century. Woodbridge, Suffolk [England: Boydell Press Read More