What factors influence where industries locate?

Traditional locations of industry

Attention was paid to factors such as; Land, Power, Raw materials, Labour Transport Market Capital

Traditional locations of industry

Steel and textile industries developed as a result of coal power and heavy raw materials.

Coal is very bulk and difficult to transport long distances. South Wales had a large amount of coal fields and a number of factories were built there as a result during the 19th C.

Traditional locations of industry

Most traditional industries were BULK REDUCING (i.e. it was more expensive to transport the bulky raw material than the finished product) and therfore factories located as close as they could to the raw material.

As a result more people moved to these areas to work in the industries.

Despite the industry declining a lot of the remaining plants stay in the area because it is too expensive to relocate.

Traditional locations of industry

The location of modern industry

Footloose industries are not tied to a particular location because of Raw Materials.

However they do have some location factors;1) Accessibility. They are often close to

motorway junctions for ease of transport.

The location of modern industry

2) Workforce. A local, skilled supply of labour is crucial to a modern industry

3) Environment. Often footloose industries are located on Greenfield sites away from the pollution of a city.

4) Amenities. A highly skilled workforce is often attracted by good quality amenities, e.g. schools, housing and leisure facilities.