The Central Business The Central Business DistrictDistrict(CBD)(CBD)

In pairs…. In pairs….

What do you think are the main What do you think are the main functions of the CBD?functions of the CBD?

Main functions of the CBDMain functions of the CBD

1.1. Shops:Shops: CBD at top of shopping hierarchy in a CBD at top of shopping hierarchy in a

city. city. Has widest range of shops and the Has widest range of shops and the

largest department stores. largest department stores. Shops mainly sell comparison goods and Shops mainly sell comparison goods and

high order goodshigh order goods Draw customer from a wide sphere of Draw customer from a wide sphere of

influenceinfluence Highest land costs in the centreHighest land costs in the centre

Bid rent theoryBid rent theory

Main functions of the CBDMain functions of the CBD

2. 2. Offices:Offices: Banks, building societies, solicitors, Banks, building societies, solicitors,

insurance companies and government insurance companies and government offices occupy high rise office blocks or the offices occupy high rise office blocks or the upper floors above shops in the CBDupper floors above shops in the CBD

Main functions of the CBDMain functions of the CBD

3. Culture and entertainment:3. Culture and entertainment: Theatres, cinemas (although now Theatres, cinemas (although now

increasingly out of town), clubs, bars and increasingly out of town), clubs, bars and restaurantsrestaurants

Some cities have certain areas famous for Some cities have certain areas famous for nightlife e.g. London’s West End and nightlife e.g. London’s West End and Newcastle’s QuaysideNewcastle’s Quayside

TransportTransport

CBD is usually very accessible.CBD is usually very accessible. The focus of roads The focus of roads Usually train station and bus station Usually train station and bus station

nearbynearby Largest urban areas have Largest urban areas have

underground systemsunderground systems Trams are being reintroduced into Trams are being reintroduced into

some city centressome city centres

Diagram from ‘Understanding GCSE Geog’

What do you think the What do you think the problems are in the CBD?problems are in the CBD?

Problems and attempted solutions Problems and attempted solutions in the CBDin the CBD

1.1.Traffic congestion:Traffic congestion:In UK towns grew and In UK towns grew and street patterns were street patterns were established before established before widespread car widespread car ownershipownershipRoads are often narrowRoads are often narrowGrid lockGrid lock

Attempted solutions Attempted solutions include:include:

Ring roads and by-Ring roads and by-passespasses

Urban motorways and Urban motorways and flyoversflyovers

Public transport Public transport schemes like ‘park schemes like ‘park and ride’and ride’

Multi-storey car parksMulti-storey car parks Pedestrianisation of Pedestrianisation of

high streetshigh streets Congestion chargeCongestion charge

Problems and attempted solutions Problems and attempted solutions in the CBDin the CBD

2. Pollution2. PollutionWater, air land and noise Water, air land and noise pollution are all common in pollution are all common in CBDs.CBDs.

Some illnesses such as asthma Some illnesses such as asthma are exacerbated by urban livingare exacerbated by urban living

Attempted solutions include:Attempted solutions include: Laws against the dumping of Laws against the dumping of

litter and sewage in riverslitter and sewage in rivers Improved provision of litter Improved provision of litter

bins and road sweeping (inc a bins and road sweeping (inc a relatively recent addition of relatively recent addition of different types of bins to different types of bins to encourage recycling)encourage recycling)

Clean Air ActsClean Air Acts Vehicles whichVehicles whichwill run on cleanerwill run on cleanerfuelsfuels Increased Increased planting of trees planting of trees and shrubsand shrubs

Problems and attempted solutions Problems and attempted solutions in the CBDin the CBD

3. 3. Lack of space and Lack of space and the high cost of the high cost of landland

Small retailers Small retailers have been forced have been forced awayaway

‘‘Clone towns’ Clone towns’

Attempted solutions Attempted solutions include:include:

High rise buildings High rise buildings to increase floor to increase floor spacespace

Out-of-town Out-of-town shopping centresshopping centres

Problems and attempted solutions Problems and attempted solutions in the CBDin the CBD

4. Urban decline:4. Urban decline: As CBDs compete with out As CBDs compete with out

of town centres they of town centres they experience decline, inc experience decline, inc vacant properties, vacant properties, vandalism etcvandalism etc

Growth of internet etc Growth of internet etc means CBD may no longer means CBD may no longer be the attractive location it be the attractive location it once was, especially for once was, especially for those such as offices who those such as offices who do not need to attract do not need to attract passing tradepassing trade

Attempted solutions include:Attempted solutions include: Redevelopment of certain Redevelopment of certain

zones in CBD e.g. Covent zones in CBD e.g. Covent Garden in LondonGarden in London

See whole section in a few lessons’ See whole section in a few lessons’ time on urban decline!time on urban decline!

From ‘Advanced geography through diagrams’