Site factorsSite – the physical land on which a settlement

is builtSituation – the settlement in relation to its

surrounding area

Different sitesWet point sites – the site of a settlement close

to a water supply such as a spring line settlement on a chalk escarpment

Different sitesDry-point site – the site of a settlement which

avoids land prone to flooding such as a gravel mould or the valley side

Dry-point site - Ely

Different sitesBridging points – a settlement located where

a river is forded or bridged

Defensive siteThis type of site was originally selected as it

offered people protection

Durham – the meander (bend of the river) acts a natural barrier

Edinburgh

Different sitesA site that is particularly good for resources –

fuel supply (wood), food supplies, building materials

Shelter and aspect – in Britain it is an advantage to be sheltered from the strong prevailing south-westerly and cold northerly winds, and to have a south-facing aspect, as this gives most sunshine, heat and light (Torquay)

Nodal pointsThis site is where two crossroads join up and

a town develops in the middle.They can develop into ‘trading centres’.

Towns near seas and rivers could also develop into trading centres

Gap towns – these develop on flat land in between two hilly pieces of land

Site factors todayMany of the site factors in the past are now

insignificant today as modern technology means we can build anywhere we want to

It now comes now down to a purely economic argument

Settlement hierarchy

FunctionFunction of a settlement – this describe what

a settlement doesDifferent functions – commercial,

administrative, residential, tourism, market towns, mining towns, industrial/manufacturing, ports, route centres, cultural/religious

Functions – change over timeFunctions change over time and may lose

their significance over time. New ones may become important after time.

Settlement shape - dispersed

Settlement pattern - linear

Settlement pattern - nucleated

Sphere of influenceThis is the area served by a settlement, shop

or service

The Burgess model

Limitations of the Burgess modelIt assumes that the landscape of cities do not changePhysical features - land may restrict growth of certain

sectors Commuter villages - commuter villages defy the theory

since they are located far away from the city Shopping centres, industry and science parks being

located outside the cityUrban regeneration and gentrification - more expensive

property can be found in 'low class' housing areas Many new housing estates were built on the edges of

cities in Britain The model does not work well for cities are made up of

towns joining together

LEDC land use model

Characteristics of Urban zonesSee video link to youtube video

UrbanisationThis is the increase in the proportion of

people living in urban areas

The problems of urbanisation – New York - MEDCHigh cost of landUrban decayImmigrantsTraffic congestionUnemploymentCrimePollutionWater SupplyClimateOvercrowded and poor quality housing

NewcastleProblems

The decline of the ship building and coal mining industry

Unemployment – 34%Urban decayLarge proportion of single mothersGraffitiCrimeLitter

Newcastle Solutions

The Tyne and Wear Development Corporation (TWDC) (1987) Invested millions of pounds Acquired and cleared derelict land, built new

infrastructure, setting up schemes with the private sector to bring new homes and amenities

Four themes Created new business districts for modern office

developments and industrial estates Increasing employment by giving grants to existing and

new businesses, and by introducing training programmes Reviving the riversides as a place to live by providing new

homes, cultural, shopping and leisure facilities Improving the environment by reclaiming land,

landscaping, restoring historic buildings and creating parks, walkways and cycleways

TWDC - continuedNewcastle business park – cost £140 million –

built on a derelict industrial estate – British airways – employs 4,000 people

Newcastle arena – 10,000 seat stadium for major sporting events and music concerts

The Hanging Gardens – a landscaped gardenNewcastle quayside – transformed into a new

business quarter with high-quality offices, pubs, restaurants, leisure facilities, new homes and a hotel – cost £170 million

The West End City Challenge (TWECC)Set up in 1991 and sent £37.5 millionAims

Create new jobsImprove educational achievementsSupport training and employment

opportunities

The West End City Challenge (TWECC)Alarm clocks for seven year olds so they get

to school on timeCCTV to prevent crimeJohn Marley Centre – training for 1,000

studentsImprovement and renovation of older housing

notably in Scotswood VillageExtending the breweries – created 280 jobs

Shanty TownsSao PauloProblems

Poor quality housingVery crampedNo sewerLack of clean waterLack of electricity

Shanty town solutionsThe council provided the residents with the

necessary materials to improve their lives – the residents build new houses for themselves – Self-help schemesResidents given:

Breeze-blocks Sinks Roofing tiles Water tank Electricity wires Bathroom with toilet Underground sewers Improved roads and streets

Advantages of self-help schemesDone in stagesCan create community spiritThe cost of building is fairly cheap so more

houses can be provided

Urban SprawlUrban sprawl – the spread of towns and cities

into the rural-urban fringe and countrysideBuildings in the rural-urban fringe:

Science parksGolf coursesOut of town shopping centresFootball groundsBy-passesHobby farming – people owning small pieces of

land which spread into the rural-urban fringeHousing estates

Preventing urban sprawlGreen belts – Green land in the countryside

which surrounds many towns and cities. This is often protected and should not be built upon

Brownfield sites – these are derelict industrial sites in cities which are then cleared and new building generally residential are built. This reduces the need to build into the countryside