Changing Locational Factors of Manufacturing Industry

Changing Locational Factors of Manufacturing Industry

In the 20th century the factors affecting the location of industry

within the UK changed. This can be seen as a change from an emphasis

on physical factors affecting the location of manufacturing

industries, such as raw materials, to an emphasis on more human and

economic factors, such as labour and transport.

The growth of manufacturing in the UK began in the 18th and 19th

centuries during the Industrial Revolution, making Great Britain one

of the most industrialised countries in the world. However, into the

20th century Britain’s greatly developed manufacturing industry

steadily declined. There were many reasons for this

de-industrialisation and it caused a change of emphasis from secondary

industries (those involved in the manufacturing of goods) to

quaternary industries (those involved with the manufacture of

high-technology goods). These new, light industries used far fewer

raw materials, than the old, heavy industries of the Industrial

Revolution, and they had a much smaller reliance on bulky, heavy raw

materials, such as coal. This meant that a resource-based location

was not necessary as it was for the 19th century manufacturing

industries, which were located close to their raw materials to prevent

difficult and expensive transport. The new quaternary industries are

therefore not locationally tied down by raw materials, and are called

‘footloose’ industries for this reason. By the end of the 20th

century this previously significant need to be located close to raw

materials was no longer an important locational factor for most

industries.

The decline of se...

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...states in areas throughout the UK, where

quaternary industries clump together so they are able to share

information and research, as well as a pool of highly skilled labour.

For example, Keele Research Centre, Aston Science Park, University of

Warwick Science Park and Merseyside Innovation Centre.

The location of manufacturing industries within urban areas has also

changed during the 20th century. Older 19th century factories were

generally located in the inner city areas of cities. However, during

the 20th century these industries declined drastically and any modern

industries began to locate out of the inner city areas, at locations

on the outskirts of the city. These areas provided better transport

links and a more pleasant environment. Modern industrial estates also

began to emerge on the rural-urban fringe.