How and why does land use vary within parts of HIC cities? Urban Zones in HICs How and why does land use vary within parts of HIC cities?

What is Land Use?

Why is Urban Land Use Segregated? The Urban Land Market means that the CBD is the land of highest value In the CBD you usually find retailing and commercial activities clustered as they are the only activities that can afford the prices They also have the need to be accessible from all parts of the city

Why is Urban Land Use Segregated? Small land value peaks can also be found outside of the CBD, often along major roads leading to and from the CBD and also at meeting points between roads/transport links This is because companies (especially manufacturing and retail) will pay extra for the good transport links provided Housing is less competitive than commercial land use so is often pushed further out of the city to the cheaper suburban locations and fringe

Urban Land Use and Zones The location of each zone is related to several factors Land value and space: Land values are highest and available sites are more limited in the CBD where competition for land is greatest As land value decreases rapidly towards the edge of cities then both the amount of space and the number of available sites increase Age: As towns develop outwards, the oldest buildings were near to the city centre (although many of these have now been replaced) and the newest ones on the outskirts Accessibility: The CBD, where the main routes from the suburbs and surrounding towns meet, has been the easiest place to reach from all parts of the city although this can often be reduced due to increased congestion

Wealth of inhabitants: The poorer members of the community tend to live in cheaper housing near to the CBD (with its shops) and the inner city (where most jobs used to be found). These people are less likely to be able to afford the higher transport (private or public) and housing costs of places nearer the suburbs Changes in demand: Land use and function change with time: Nineteenth century industry was located next to the CBD whereas modern industry prefers edge-of-city sites The main land use demand in the nineteenth century was for industry and low-cost housing. Today it is for industry, shops and better-quality housing, all in a more pleasant environment, and open space

The Four Zones of a City Core – CBD ( Central Business District ) Inner city ring ( Early suburbs ) Suburban ring Urban Fringe( Rural-Urban fringe )

Prevailing wind – why is this significant?

CBD

The Central Business District

Characteristics In the centre around the historical core (e.g. cathedral, castle) Contains skyscrapers and other tall buildings Contains: The largest offices and shops including department stores The widest variety of goods on sale High land values, rents and rates The main place of work by day The most accessible location where the main roads meet and has the main railway station The main difference between the CBD and other zones is that few people live here

Main Functions Shops: The department stores and national chains are in the very centre of the CBD The smaller, often privately owned, shops are located on the edges of the CBD Some shops, e.g. clothing, shoe and jewellery tend to cluster together to take advantage of competition Other shops are more dispersed e.g. newsagents and chemists Offices: Banks, building societies, solicitors, company HQ, etc. occupy the upper floors above shops Culture and entertainment: Some parts ‘come alive’ at night as theatres, cinemas, clubs, bars and restaurants attract customers e.g. London’s West End

INNER CITY

The Inner City Industrial Zone

Inner City Decay - Dereliction

Victorian Terraced Housing

Inner City High-rise Flats

Characteristics An area of old housing and industry. Contains a mixture of land uses: Old high-density terraced houses Some are 3 or 4 storeys high which are often let out as flats/apartments and badly maintained Old and sometimes abandoned factories Areas of derelict land around railway sidings, unused docks and canals High-rise flats (many built in the 1960s) Pockets of smart new developments e.g. London Docklands The main difference between the inner city and other urban zones is its generally run-down appearance

SUBURBS

Suburban Housing – Semi-detached inter/post war

Suburban Housing – detached houses

Characteristics Normally covers the largest area and part of the urban area that has grown outwards from the old centre across what was once countryside Predominantly residential: Along the sides of main roads are inter-war semi-detached (S-D) housing and small shopping parades Behind the main roads are more modern housing estates (S-D and detached (D)) Some are private estates others were local authority built (some have been bought by the residents) The houses usually have gardens and garages and space between them More recent and expensive housing is in the outer suburbs, where density is lower There is less change in this zone than in the other 3; the houses are good for many more years and virtually all the land suitable for building has already been used

RURAL-URBAN FRINGE

Edge of town Estates

Commuter Towns & Villages

Characteristics On and around the edge of the built-up area. Partly urban, partly countryside A mixture of land uses: Some traditional rural land uses e.g. farmland and woodland Others are rural businesses targeted at people living in nearby urban areas e.g. garden centres and farm shops Recreation e.g. golf courses and stables Public utilities e.g. water storage and sewerage farms New urban developments e.g. out-of-town supermarkets, shopping centres and business parks New housing in villages leads to old settlements growing and becoming part of the urban built-up area This zone has many conflicts between developers who want to use the greenfield sites for building homes and planners and conservationists who want to preserve as much countryside as possible

In which urban zone/s are you likely to find… a shop open at 2am? the highest buildings? cul-de-sacs? a castle? a museum? the cathedral? an old warehouse? houses with large gardens? a department store? a small corner shop? Someone who wants to mug you? golf courses?

Urban Structure Exercise Look at the photos that follow. For each one: Describe the area it shows Identify which zone of the city you think it is Cut the photos out and stick them in your books beside your answers Photo 1 Photo 2

Photo 3 Map 4 Photo 6 Photo 5

Task... On the map of Luton, study the 6 squares closely Based on the road layouts, nearby services, and the shape of the housing, identify what zone of the city it is in