Aylesbury Urban Area

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Aylesbury Urban Area
population = 69,021 [cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=8271&Pos=2&ColRank=1&Rank=224 |title=KS01 Usual resident population: Census 2001, Key Statistics for urban areas |publisher=Office for National Statistics |accessdate=2008-06-18]
shire_district= Aylesbury Vale
shire_county = Buckinghamshire
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Aylesbury
post_town= AYLESBURY
postcode_district = HP19, HP20, HP21
postcode_area= HP
dial_code= 01296
os_grid_reference= SP818138
london_distance= 41.6 m

The Aylesbury Urban Area is defined by the Office for National Statistics as a conurbation in central Buckinghamshire, England. It had a population of 69,021 (2001 census). The largest population centre is Aylesbury itself at 56,392.

History

Pre 20th Century

Aylesbury was, for hundreds of years, a typically small market town like others in the area such as Wendover. It population in 1801 was 3082 [cite web|url=http://met.open.ac.uk/GENUKI/big/eng/BKM/Aylesbury/Index.html|title=Aylesbury] with steady growth up to 9099 in 1901, a three-fold increase in 100 years. At the same time, villages and hamlets such Walton and New Zealand grew slowly with separate identities to the growing town.

1900-1950

During the first half of the twentieth century, the population grew slightly more, reaching 21,200 in 1950. However, the rocketing population of the capital, London was creating a strain on the recently introduced green belt and Aylesbury was one of the towns chosen for major population growth [cite web|url=http://www.aylesbury-pgl.co.uk/Places01.htm|title=Aylesbury] to house the London overspill.

1950-2000

The population of the town began to increase at a faster rate, as new housing estates were built. At the same time, the centre of Aylesbury was redeveloped, with new shopping areas. The area near the Aylesbury branch of the Grand Union Canal, built in 1814, was developed into a pedestrian square. The population reached 40,000 in 1970 and 51,000 by 1990, with new housing areas being built every few years. By 2001, the urban area housed 69,021 people.

Future

Aylesbury's growth is far from over, with major housing development in the north. Two major growth areas are "Berryfields" and "Weedon Hill", with 3850 new homes [cite web|url=http://www.aylesburyvaleadvantage.co.uk|title=Aylesbury Vale Advantage] as well as new services being constructed. The population of the Aylesbury Vale district is expected to be around 215,000 people by 2026 with around half living in Aylesbury, making the urban area population around 100,000 people.

Reasons for growth

The Vale of Aylesbury is a large flat area of land, and therefore ideal for urban development. From the 19th century onwards, other major factors contributing to the growth of Aylesbury were:
*1814- The opening of the Grand Union Canal branch to London and Birmingham
*1839- Railway links to the London and Birmingham Railway, todays West Coast Main Line in the form of the Cheddington to Aylesbury Line, the world's first branch line.
*1865- First factories constructed
*1892-Metropolitan Railway link to London
*1960s- new housing encourages people to move to Aylesbury.

Constituent Places

Transport

Railway

Today

There are two stations serving the urban area, Aylesbury and Stoke Mandeville, both on the London to Aylesbury Line. Before 1966, they were on the Great Central Main Line with services north to Manchester. There is also a line to Princes Risborough connecting with the Chiltern Main Line.

Future

To cater for the new housing developments, a new station will open in late 2008 with the name Aylesbury Vale Parkwaycite web|url=http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/content/index.jsp?contentid=-1950503947|title=Aylesbury Vale Parkway|publisher=Buckinghamshire County Council|accessdate=2008-06-04] . Chiltern Railways have also suggested re-connecting the area with the north in the future [http://www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/southeastplan/key/study_areas/draft_strategies/mkav/aylesbury_vale-draft_strategy.pdf] .

Road

Unlike other urban areas nearby, Aylesbury urban area has no motorway connection or major dual carriageways, or even a good quality bypass. Improvemnets to the roads towards Milton Keynes are underway [ cite web|url=http://www.aylesburyvaleadvantage.co.uk/index.cfm/ava/Projects.Roads|title=New Road Structure] however.

References

External Links

* [http://www.aylesburytowncouncil.gov.uk/ Aylesbury Town Council]
* [http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/ Aylesbury Vale District Council]
* [http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/ Buckinghamshire County Council]
* [http://www.aylesburyvaleadvantage.co.uk/ Information on the growth and regeneration of Aylesbury]
* [http://www.aylesburytoday.co.uk/ The Bucks Herald]