2. Higher Geography: Urban Core
Penicuik HS
Geography Dept

3. Site
Site refers to the actual land on which the original settlement was built

4. Site
Settlements grow in different places for a variety of reasons. These usually revolve around Defence or the availability of water and other natural resources. The main site factors are identified below:
Wet Point: These settlements were built at a source of water in an otherwise dry area. For example, in lowland Britain, many settlements were built at springs
Dry Point: In especially wet areas, settlements were built on slightly raised land to avoid flooding or the unhealthy marshland
Defensive Site: In order to protect themselves from attack, settlements were built within a river meander or the top of a steep hill, giving protection to those living there

5. Site
Route Centre: A settlement located at the meeting point of several roads/railways; the meeting point of two or more river valleys
Bridging Point: Where a river was shallow enough to be crossed (a ford) or narrow enough to easily build a bridge

6. Situation
Situation: describes where a settlement is located in relation to other surrounding features such as other settlements, rivers and communications.

7. Site and Situation of Edinburgh
Pre-urban nucleus was location on the crag (where castle is built) and tail (along which the Royal Mile has evolved).
2 deep troughs to the North and South
Defensive site

8. Advantages of Edinburgh’s Site
Defensive Site on the crag (130m)
Protection on three sides of the crag by steep cliffs for defence
Crag and Tail provided a natural route between the Castle and the Palace at Holyrood
Two deep hollows either side of the tail improved defence
The volcanic bedrock provided solid foundations for building

9. Edinburgh's Situation
Important trade routes from east to west forced through this gap meaning Edinburgh controlled trade in this region
Flat lowlands to the North of the Royal Mile allowed the city to easily expand with the building of the New Town
Close to the Port of Leith. This was an important port trading with the rest of Europe, especially France
Gap site between the Pentland Hills to the south and the Firth of Forth to the north.
Close to fertile farmland in East Lothian, essential for a regular food supply

10. Past Papers Questions
2005
For a city you have studied, explain the ways in which its site and situation contributed to its growth (8)
Give this a go…
you have 8 minutes

11. Edinburgh Princes Street
Function
Function is the activities a town or city performs. These will change over time and a larger cities will often have many functions
Edinburgh Princes Street
What functions
do you think Edinburgh has??

12. Edinburgh’s Function Commercial, legal and religious centre
Capital city, centre of Government
International financial centre
Educational & cultural centre
Commercial / retail centre
International tourist & conference centre
Industrial centre (although declining)

13. Urban Models 1: Burgess
Assumed the city was built on flat land and grew equally in all directions
Model developed around the idea that land prices are highest in the centre, where most jobs are found
Poorer people live near the Centre due to them having less access to transport

14. Urban Models 1: Burgess Criticisms
Zones of the City are never clearly cut
Cities are rarely, if ever, built on flat land
Not enough importance was attached to transport (Model designed in 1925 before mass car ownership)
No out of town shopping centres in 1924
Designed around the city of Chicago in the USA, making it difficult to apply to the UK

15. Urban Models 2: Hoyt
Wealthy people choose best sites and live far from Industry
Transport Links are essential for Manufacturing
Similar land users are attracted to the same parts of the city due to the comparative land prices

16. Urban Models 2: Hoyt Criticisms
Again assumed cities are built on flat land and grow equally in all directions
Model based on housing and neglected other areas, such as Industry
Low cost housing was in fact generally found near main roads, on the edge of the city
The model assumes no planning laws or restrictions (Green Belts) apply

17. Urban Models 3: Multiple Nuclei
Created to highlight the complexity of modern cities
Cities grow from more than 1 centre
Each Nuclei acts as a growth point
Each Nuclei will merge with another aas the city grows

18. Urban Zones 1: The CBD

19. Urban Zone 1: The CBD
Most expensive land prices in the City. This leads to the creation of tall buildings
Most accessible part of the city. All the main roads meet here and the main train and bus stations are found here
Little or no housing as the land is too expensive
Centre of high order shops and services (Cathedrals and Hotels)

20. Urban Zone 1: The CBD
Some of the oldest, and newest, buildings are found here
High competition for land
No open space
Main centres of entertainment (Theatres and Restaurants)

21. Urban Zone 1: The CBD Administrative Centres
Cultural centres (Museums and Art Galleries)
Tourist Centres

22. Urban Zone 2: The Inner City
When first built this area was found on the edge of the city
Now there is little open space and therefore no room to expand
Narrow streets, not designed for large amounts of traffic
Terraced or Tenement (Scotland) housing, for workers at the factories

23. Urban Zone 2: The Inner City
Increasingly run down and derelict as factories have closed and workers have moved away
Lots of churches and usually the home of local football teams (Football is traditionally a working class sport)
Grid Iron Street Pattern

24. Urban Zone 3: Modern Housing Estates
Curved street pattern and lots of cul-de-sacs (Dead end streets)
More open space, room for gardens and parks
Detached houses with gardens
Main roads go around the area
Space for schools, colleges and hospitals
Lower land prices

25. Urban Zone 4: Modern Industry

26. Urban Zone 4: Modern Industry
Low Density Buildings
Room to expand
Space for Car Parking
Cheaper land values at the edge of the city
Housing nearby for workers to live in

27. Urban Zone 4: Modern Industry
Easy access to main road links to easily transport goods by lorry
Train stations so workers can access the area easily
Landscaping and green areas in an attempt to make the area attractive to work in