The De-industrialisation and Regeneration of the Merseyside Region

1520 Words4 Pages

The De-industrialisation and Regeneration of the Merseyside Region

The Merseyside region falls within one of Britain’s traditional

manufacturing areas. Liverpool first developed as a small port

concerned with fishing and trade with Ireland. However, it’s location

on the West coast, on the Irish Sea meant that the port grew

throughout the 18th century due to the increase in trade with North

America and the West Indies, and the decline of the port in the nearby

city of Chester. The first wet dock in Great Britain was established

here and throughout the 19th century Liverpool became the main port in

Britain for American trade and passenger services.

The large quantities of raw materials that were available in the

region, including coal from the South Lancashire coalfields and rock

salt from Cheshire, meant many manufacturing industries rapidly grew

in its hinterland. These included food processing, textiles and the

chemical industry. However, the main industry to progress from the

growth of Liverpool as a port was shipbuilding and repair, and in 1829

Birkenhead emerged as an important shipyard. Between 1829 and 1947,

over 1,100 vessels of all sizes and types slid down the Laird slipways

into the Mersey and during this time Birkenhead was placed at the

forefront of the British shipbuilding industry. In 1931, over 193,000

people in the Merseyside region were employed in the shipping,

transport and distribution industries, making it the largest employer

at that time.

However, after extensive bombing of the city in World War II and the

decline of the cotton and textile industries in the 1940’s,

Liverpool’s importance as a por...

... middle of paper ...

...n

Amazonian rainforest. Finally, the Twelve Quays development between

Birkenhead and Wallasey is a major development area overlooking the

Liverpool waterfront.

All of these schemes have already had a great effect on the region by

reducing unemployment and improving conditions within the inner city

areas. Unemployment in Merseyside has fallen to its lowest since the

1970’s (less than 6%) and the city has become an investment location

of choice for many national and international companies. Liverpool’s

status as European Capital of Culture 2008 has already had a great

effect on the city, encouraging a huge amount of investment within the

city, and further significant growth is anticipated over the coming

years as improvements continue to happen with financial assistance

from both the private and public sectors.

Open Document