The process of counter-urbanisation

Counter-urbanisation is the movement of large numbers of people from urban areas into the surrounding rural areas and the countryside. Generally, inhabitants move as a result of the push factors of the city or pull factors of rural area. Counter urbanisation became noticeable when the inner city living conditions deteriorated in the 1950s as a result of industrial collapse and the mass unemployment that followed. This coupled with the poor environmental quality and cycle of decline and deprivation led to people sorting work elsewhere. The countryside seemed more favourable as it offered a better quality of life. The area was clean of air and noise pollution from heavy industries with miniscule crime rates compared to urban environments and housing was of better value with more space for your money.

More recently, the improvement in transport allows more people to live in the rural areas without jeopardising their jobs and the advances in technology mean many people can work from home and therefore prefer a more scenic environment. The countryside attracts the elderly and retirees as well as well as those in full time employment as the greater disposable income makes second homes and retirement properties in these areas more affordable than before.

However this mass migration of people has implications for both the cities and rural villages. The cities can shrink in size significantly altering their demography and economy and leaving them with derelict buildings, struggling shops and deprivation. On the contrary, villages are becoming larger and increasingly suburbanised which often results in a loss of their original character. This is particularly caused by the increase in the number of second homes in a village resulting in many being left as ghost towns out of the holiday season with little feeling of community. Additionally, second homes often put the housing prices up for locals whose off-spring find they can no longer afford to return to their home village and therefore move elsewhere leaving an ageing population.

House prices can be pushed up locally as migrants sell expensive city properties and earn higher city wages. With regard to local services, the development of villages means there is a greater appeal for supermarkets and other businesses which subsequently relocate there. This leads to a loss of local services such as the village shop and post office and adds to the loss of character within the village as well as the greenfield sites around and about. The increase of commuters means there is an increase in congestion and consequently the issues of the inner city such as noise and air pollution gradually spread to these rural settlements as well.