A shift to the coast –
Bournemouth (UK), Spain and
Australia
•What is coastalisation?
• What has caused coastalisation to happen? And what
problems can it create?
•How has Bournemouth’s, Spain’s and Australia’s
coastalisation developed?
Did you know?
 3 billion people live within 100km of the
coast
 Two thirds of our largest cities are within
60km of the sea
 Coastal population densities are usually 80
people/km2 – 50% more than inland areas
 These can rise up to 1000+ in the Nile and
Ganges Deltas
Coastalisation
• Coastalisation is the ‘movement of people to coastal
areas’ .
• These people require more homes and jobs.
• In attractive areas this can lead to conflict as some
people are concerned about environmental
degradation.
• People are more at risk from erosion and rising sea
level in coastal locations.
Where are people concentrated?
Australia
Spain
Florida
Factors that have led to
coastalisation
• Use 3 different colours for Australia,
Spain and Florida to get started…
Physical factors
Human factors
• Can the current rate of coastalisation
be maintained?
The coastal magnet
Why is the coastal zone so favoured for development?
There are many physical factors(topography, relief and
climate) as well as human factors too.
• Equable climate –Temperatures near the coast do not
vary as much as inland. Water’s specific heat
capacity is much higher than the land. It takes more
heat energy (and time) to warm up and water cools
slowly. So coastal places are cooler in the Summer
than inland places and warmer in the Winter. eg
Greek Islands, Florida, Spanish Costas
• Flat, fertile land – is available in coastal areas,
especially where rivers flow across their floodplains
and out to sea, so it is attractive for building
settlements. Alluvium deposited by the rivers in
these locations is rich in nutrients so provides good
farmland for generating a secure food supply. eg
Cairo, Egypt.
• Building materials – stone, wood etc allow settlement
construction.
• Sheltered inlets and natural harbours (which may be
an upland coastline) and estuaries– shelter ships and
provide suitable land for docks. eg Hong Kong,
Pireaus. Larger settlements develop to
accommodate the shipping trade like warehousing,
processing and commerce. Some ports like
Southampton handle the liners for cruise holidays.
• Flood/storm protection- mangroves/reefs are a
natural form of coastal protection so people feel safe
to live there. eg Caribbean
• Opportunities for aesthetic enjoyment – sea views
provide tranquility and a pleasant environment to
build a home or spend a day eg Dorset’s Jurassic
Coast
• Recreation/tourism-Coastal areas are popular destinations for
tourists. Water based recreation is fashionable eg kite surfing.
Coral reefs, sand dunes and beaches draw people in large numbers.
Golf courses are frequently found at the coast eg. Spanish Costas
• Employment opportunities in all sectors of the economy
primary, secondary and tertiary.
• Potential for fishing – Some settlements have grown
around the fishing industry. Food security is vital. Eg Tolo.
However, overfishing is problematic. Mangrove swamps are
being cleared for the prawn industry. Fish farming in
controlled conditions is also popular.
• Aquaculture – shellfish, such as cockles and mussels,
provide a great food source for humans and wading
birds! eg Morecombe Bay, UK
• Industry – coastal locations give access to water for
cooling for industries like power stations. The sand and
gravel industry also provides jobs in coastal locations.
• Accessibility/Transport – coastal access allow easy
access for trade.
• Power – Tidal power is clean and renewable. The wind is
also often stronger at the coast so wind power is efficient
here too.
• Biodiversity – coastal ecosystems are often brimming
with wildlife. Conservation is undertaken on significant
stretches of the coast.
Timeline of coastal development
1000
Early concentration of population by food security and transport at the
coast
1300
Some become seats of political and economic power and are fortified
attracting more people etc
1600
European colonisation of Americas etc first settlements on coasts
1750
Industrialisation = wealth to ports
1800
Increased security of coasts encourages settlement growth and
development
1850
Seaside resorts and coastal tourism takes off
1930
Paid holidays from work give big boost to coastal tourism
1950
Large scale expansion of port industries e.g. steel and ship building
1970
Exploitation of offshore resources e.g. oil and natural gas
1980
Growth of water-based recreation in estuaries, rising demand for 2nd
homes in coastal areas
2000
Possible providers for wind and tidal power, greater leisure use but
decline in UK based holidays
Task
Read pages 162-168 Pearson and pages
210-215 Philip Allan.
This powerpoint is also available on the
blog....
‘Why are people concentrated in coastal
areas?’ 10 marks
Coastalisation in the UK
• Have a look at the article entitled
‘The seaside resort: a British cultural
export’
Coastalisation in the UK:
Bournemouth
Where is
Bournemouth?
What is it like?
• Bournemouth is the largest city in Dorset,
in the SW of the UK.
•
•
•
•
•
Census info - population
1851- 695 people (village)
2001 – 163,600 (city)
2011 – 168,100 (city)
Growth of 6.4% 1995-2005
Why so much growth?
• Not natural increase – births exceed
deaths so there is a natural decrease in
population
• Inward migration – mainly over 50 year
olds from all over the UK!
Why are they attracted to
Bournemouth?
• Climate – higher sunshine hours and
milder winters
• High environmental quality – nice
attractive environment near World
Heritage coast
• Accessibility – amenities and only 2
hours by train from London
Q Which do you think is the most
important reason and why?
Traditional?
Modern?
The growth of Bournemouth
Growth of service sector
ECONOMIC BOOM
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•
•
There has been an increase in the number of jobs in the
service sector in Bournemouth – banking, finance and tourism
In 1999 – 14 889 worked in banks etc , growth to 18300 in
2003
Barclays Bank has an IT centre and Abbey life also have
offices
These are all FOOTLOOSE
Attractions
1. Land is available for development (council has also granted
planning permission)
2. University provides skilled graduates
3. Easy access to London and other European Cities via local
airport
4. Wages are lower than in SE England especially London
5. House prices are lower than in most of the SE so people can
afford to buy property there
RETIREMENT BOOM
•
What is the retirement boom?
•
•
Bournemouth’s population is ageing!
Many people come to retire from the SE and downsize their
property to release their money to invest it.
The city has many facilities for the elderly eg residential
homes, clubs, bingo etc
•
•
•
•
•
BUT ...
Bournemouth does retain its young people!
The University has expanded
And Bournemouth has a great night life!
The future for Bournemouth?
• Victorian buildings are now surrounded by 20th
century houses.
• Coastal squeeze – the city is now squeezed between
the sea on one side and rural areas inland.
• There is a greenbelt around the city.
• 99% of residential property is expected to be built on
brownfield sites (18,000 new homes)
• The seafront has been redeveloped
• Many old hotels have been converted into flats or
student accommodation
Plenary
• Can places such as Bournemouth become
‘over-developed’?
• What is the likely future for coastal
areas such as Bournemouth?
Tourist model
Give reasons for the decline of many
British seaside resorts
How can the management of seaside resorts bring about
their revival
TASKS – Bournemouth
1. What are the main physical and human attractions
that make Bournemouth a crowded coast? (10 marks)
*Do not forget to include info about the economic and
retirement booms*
2. Are those stronger or weaker than they were in the
past? Justify your answer.
3. Where has Bournemouth developed in:
• 19th Century
• Early 20th Century
• Later in the 20th Century
• Recently?
Draw a labelled sketch map to show this and shade in
the different periods in different colours
4. Compare it with the idealised model and identify the
similarities and differences
5. What has Bournemouth done to prepare for its
future?