Theme 1 - 1.6 - Urban Settlements

Question 1

Define urban land use.

Answer 1

Activities such as industry, housing and commerce that may be found in towns and cities.

Question 2

Define bid rent.

Answer 2

(A concept that) When land value and rent decreases as distance from the central business district increases.

Question 3

Define central business district.

Answer 3

An area of an urban settlement where most of the commercial activity takes place.

Question 4

Define suburbs.

Answer 4

The outer part of an urban settlement, generally consisting of residential housing and shops of a low order.

Question 5

Define rural-urban fringe.

Answer 5

The boundary of a town or city, where new building is changing land use from rural to urban.

Question 6

Define urban sprawl.

Answer 6

The unchecked outwards spread of built-up areas, which happens when urban areas continue to grow out without any planning.

Question 7

Define redevelopment.

Answer 7

Attempts to improve an urban area.

Question 8

Define urban renewal.

Answer 8

When existing buildings are improved.

Question 9

Define gentrification.

Answer 9

The movement of higher social or economic groups into an area after it has been renovated and restored.

Question 10

Where is the highest land value in a city?

Answer 10

In the central business district (CBD).

Question 11

Which is the most accessible area of a city?

Answer 11

The central business district (CBD).

Question 12

What are the characteristics of the central business district?

Answer 12

• High-rise buildings
• Lack of space
• High land value
• Traffic and lots of people

Question 13

Where in a city are most residential areas found?

Answer 13

In the suburbs.

Question 14

Where are most industrial areas in the city?

Answer 14

• Inner city
• Along major transport routes
• Edge-of-town locations

Question 15

What is the inner city section characterised by?

Answer 15

• Poor-quality terraced housing
• Old manufacturing industry
• Often in neglect and decay

Question 16

Which is usually the newest part of a city?

Answer 16

The suburbs

Question 17

Why is the inner city often in neglect and decay?

Answer 17

It is old and the manufacturing is no longer profitable, which has led to a lack of investment.

Question 18

How are urban areas changing?

Answer 18

• Much retail and commerce is now taking place on the edge of town
• Inner city is being used for residential purposes
• In LEDCs, shanty towns have formed -> These are slowly changing and being gentrified

Question 19

How does urban development differ in LEDCs and MEDCs?

Answer 19

LEDCs lack the same industrial development that MEDCs have. Also, LEDCs’ land use is different to MEDCs’.

Question 20

What are the two main land use models?

Answer 20

• Concentric model (Burgess)

* Sector model (Hoyt)

Question 21

Describe the concentric land use model (Burgess model).

Answer 21

The model is a series of concentric rings in the order of:
• CBD
• Wholesale manufacturing
• Low-class residential
• Medium-class residential
• High-class residential

Question 22

Describe the sector land use model (Hoyt model).

Answer 22

The model is a series of sectors around a central point. The sectors are:
• CBD
• Wholesale manufacturing
• Low-class residential
• Medium-class residential
• High-class residential

Question 23

How did Hoyt think of his land use model?

Answer 23

• He came up with it after the development of public transport
• Sectors form along transport routes

Question 24

What are the key points about land use in LICs?

Answer 24

• Rich generally live close to the city centre + Poor generally live on the periphery
• Higher quality land occupied by wealthy
• Segregation by wealth, race and ethnicity is evident
• Manufacturing is scattered through the city, along generally along transport routes
• Order: CBD, High-cost housing, Periferia (older informal housing with improvements), Favelas (new informal housing)

Question 25

In LICs, where do the rich and poor live?

Answer 25

``` Rich • Close to city centre • Higher quality land Poor • Edges of city • Lower quality land ```

Question 26

How can urban sprawl be prevented?

Answer 26

Green belts - areas surrounding a city in which urban development is limited.

Question 27

What is a green belt?

Answer 27

Areas surrounding a city in which urban development is limited.

Question 28

Where does the majority of urban change happen in the cit and why?

Answer 28

In edge-of-town locations because of: • Lower land prices • Land is available for development • Accessibility to private cars is high

Question 29

What happens to existing buildings in urban redevelopment?

Answer 29

They are either demolished and rebuilt, or renovated.

Question 30

Who carries out urban redevelopment and urban renewal?

Answer 30

Government or a mix of government and private developers

Question 31

In which part of the city is gentrification most common?

Answer 31

Inner city

Question 32

What generally happens to propel living in an area which is gentrified?

Answer 32

They may out-migrate from the area.

Question 33

Give some examples of gentrification in LICs.

Answer 33

* Woodstock in Cape Town (South Africa) | * Vidigal in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

Question 34

Is the CBD the same as the inner city?

Answer 34

No, the inner city is (or was) the industrial area surrounding the CBD.

Question 35

What are the characteristics of the inner city?

Answer 35

* Poor-quality terraced 19th Century housing * Old manufacturing industry * Often in neglect and decay * High population density * Social problems * Redevelopment may be happening

Question 36

What are the characteristics of the inner suburbs?

Answer 36

* Semi-detached housing mostly - 1930s * Less densely populated * Tree-lined streets

Question 37

What are the characteristics of the outer suburbs?

Answer 37

* Modern detached and semi-detached housing * Mainly privately owned * Gardens, garages and off-street parking * Recreational activities -> E.g. Golf * On the rural-urban fringe

Question 38

Where are retail parks and industrial estates found in urban areas and why?

Answer 38

``` On the rural-urban fringe, because: • Good accessibility • Near suburban labour force • Cheaper land • Land available for expansion • Attractive environment ```

Question 39

Give some land uses in the rural-urban fringe.

Answer 39

* New industries * Recreational activities * Housing * Shopping centres * New roads

Question 40

What are the benefits of the rural-urban fringe for economic development?

Answer 40

* Cheap land * Room for expansion * Plenty of car-parking space * Workers close by * Good accessibility * Attractive environment + Little pollution

Question 41

What are greenfield and brownfield sites?

Answer 41

Greenfield: Sites which have never been build on Brownfield: Sites which are old and derelict

Question 42

What are the advantages and disadvantages of building on greenfield sites (instead of on brownfield sites)?

Answer 42

``` ADV. • Cheaper to build on • More freedom of location DIS. • Encourages urban sprawl • Ruins countryside • Encourages commuting and traffic congestion ```

Question 43

What are the advantages and disadvantages of building on brownfield sites (instead of on greenfield sites)?

Answer 43

``` ADV. • Reduces urban sprawl • Improves urban environment • Not damaging to countryside • Reduces need for car use DIS. • Generally not as available in areas where there is a demand for housing • More expensive to build on -> Land needs to be cleared • Less choice of location ```