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The movement of businesses and other activities away from a city’s centre towards its suburbs or surrounding areas.

The movement of businesses and other activities away from a city centre or inner city towards outer areas or other locations.

Decentralisation moved industrial activity away from the inner city. Some older factories were small, crowded and housed in deteriorating buildings, with little room to expand. Congested roads made access difficult.

Do not confuse decentralisation with moving production overseas: decentralisation can involve factories moving from the inner city to the outskirts.

Distinguish de-industrialisation from decentralisation: industrial activity declines in the first; activities move away from central areas in the second.

The movement of businesses, shops and other activities away from central urban locations towards suburbs or out-of-town sites.

Decentralisation occurs when shops, businesses and other activities relocate away from central urban locations. Unlike de-industrialisation, it does not necessarily mean an activity disappears: it may grow elsewhere.

Decentralisation

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Edexcel GCSE Geography A · 1GA0

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Edexcel GCSE Geography B · 1GB0