1. Section 2: Settlement Site, Function and Hierarchy
A settlement is place where people live and work. It can be large, small, permanent or temporary

2. Part 1: Distinguish between site and location of a settlement
Settlements have developed over time
Location and growth of settlements are related to physical and human factors
The first consideration about any settlement is its location. Why is a settlement found in a particular place? What are the reasons why this SITE was chosen as opposed to another place?

3. The Site of a settlement
The site of a settlement is
The point at which the town (or hamlet, village or city) is located. The town is located at this place (its ‘building site’) because they have one or more advantages.
What are the main factors?

4. The Situation of a settlement
The situation of a settlement helps to describe where the settlement is located with reference to other features like other settlements, mountains, rivers and communications – it is situation that determines whether the place will continue to grow

5. Location Advantages Wet point site Drinking water supply
Dry point site
High ground to avoid flooding
Building materials
Wood and stone
Defence
Views, rivers and slopes
Fuel Supply
Heating and cooking
Food supplies
Farming land – good soil
Nodal points
Where 2 routes meet
Bridging points
Ford – river crossing point
Shelter and aspect
South Facing slopes

6. The thing to remember
Is that most cities, towns and villages grew up many years ago. As the places grew into villages and then onto towns and eventually into cities they changed and many forgot the actual ‘site’ reasons – in the 19th and 20th centuries many of the physical advantages were replaced by human factors
Question – what factors are important for the development of settlements today?

7. Location Advantages Wet point site Water is piped – not important
Dry point site
River banks are built up
Building materials
Cement shipped in
Defence
Not important
Fuel Supply
Fuel shipped in
Food supplies
Food shipped in
Nodal points
Possibly more important?
Bridging points
Rivers crossed anywhere
Shelter and aspect
Political factors
Government policy/planning
Economic factors
Are some parts rich/poor

8. The Site of Belfast
Belfast was a river crossing point (or ford). In fact it was almost an accident that Belfast grew at all as Carrickfergus was more important until the 18th Century when Belfast’s position (and function) allowed it to grow into the main industrialised city in Ireland

9. So what about Ballymena then?
What are the different reasons for the growth of Ballymena?

10. What is a Settlement Function?
The function of a settlement is the main activity that a settlement has. It relates to the main job that a place has - for example the main function of Belfast would be

11. What are the main functions?
Market Towns
Mining Towns
Industrial Towns
Ports
Route Centres
Service Centres
Cultural/Religious centres
Administrative Centres
Residential Towns
Tourist Resorts

12. Can you think of an example for each of these in Northern Ireland
Market Towns
Mining Towns
Industrial Towns
Ports
Route Centres
Service Centres
Culutral/Religious centres
Administrative Centres
Residential Towns
Tourist Resorts

13. Do Settlements have different Patterns?
The notes from Page 20 and 21 are taken from ‘The wider world’ and they explain the relationship between the function and settlement patterns.
Basically, settlements are shaped in different ways

18. Threshold Population
This is the number of people that are needed to make sure that there is enough demand for a particular service
For example – 350 people are needed for a village shop
2,500 people are needed for a doctor
10,000 people are needed for a secondary school
50,000 people are needed for a Marks and Spencer
60,000 people are needed for a Sainsbury’s

19. Range
This is the maximum distance that people are prepared to travel in order to get or use a service. People are not prepared to travel far to a corner shop but will travel longer distances to shop in supermarket or a furniture store