The Rural-Urban Fringe
& Green Belts
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Aim: To find out what has happened on the
Rural-Urban Fringe and why Green Belts have
been set up by the government.
The Rural-Urban Fringe
What is the rural-urban fringe?
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It is the area where the city meets
the countryside.
Recently there has been increasing
demand for land on the RUF
because:
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Land is cheaper
There is less traffic congestion and
pollution
There is easier access and a better road
infrastructure
There is a more pleasant environment
with more open space
What do developers want the
land for?
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Housing developments as urban sprawl
continues
Science and business parks
Hyper-markets and superstores
Retail parks & out of town shopping centres
Office developments
Hotels and conference centres
Airport expansion
Shopping Centres
Why do they want to locate at the RUF?
Room to expand
Space for parking
Local suburban work force
Cheap land
Close to motorways
Leisure facilities can
also be provided
The Trafford Centre, Manchester
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Opened 1998.
5.5mn people, almost 10% of the UK’s
total pop live within 45 mins drive.
2005 – 29.4mn people visited
More than just a shopping centre –
1,600 seat food court, bowling alley,
Laser Quest, 20 screen cinema.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5
PMwGXCNaU&feature=related
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages: good motorway links, own bus
station, 11,000 free parking spaces, services
(banks, PO, travel agents), crèche,
weatherproof & air con, disabled facilities.
Disadvantages: Congestion & pressure on local
roads, artificial atmosphere, big chains, as
too expensive for local shops, effected
Manchester’s CBD – Marks & Spencer's
realised there mistake when they first didn’t
chose to locate in the centre. Some stores
have left central Manchester.
Housing
Why is housing built at the RUF?
More housing is
needed as more
people are living
alone and living
longer.
Land is cheap
Peace and quiet
Less crime
Good access to
countryside
Easy access to
motorways
GATM video
Airports
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Massive increase in air traffic predicted by
2030.
Low cost carriers such as Easy Jet are
increasing their routes and passenger
numbers.
Expansion of Bournemouth Airport
Problems: noise & air pollution, more traffic in
the area, loss of biodiversity, visual pollution.
What are the negative impacts
caused by developing the
RUF?
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Large areas of countryside may be lost
Buildings may be out of character with
existing rural buildings
Villages become suburbanised
Traffic is likely to increase ( both cars
and lorries)
There may be some noise or pollution
NIMBYism
How can change at the RUF
be managed?
Creating ‘Green Belts’ – a zone of countryside around a city
where development is controlled.They aim to:
 Prevent urban sprawl
 Prevent towns merging
 Preserve the special character of towns
NOT ALL CITIES HAVE GREEN BELTS.
Examples include London, Oxford and Bournemouth.
However, greenbelts are often leap-frogged and development
happens just outside it. 1100 hec lost each year since 97.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/avdb/news_web/video/
9012da68001e538/bb/09012da68001e72d_16x9_bb
.asx
BBC Video clip – How they have benefited England.
How can development at the
RUF be managed?
New Towns
e.g Stevenage
At the end of the second world war towns
were created just outside London’s
green belt to prevent London spreading
and give people a better way of life.
Other Policies
In recent years the Government has tried
to reduce pressure on the RUF by
encouraging development of brownfield
sites over greenfield sites, and stopping
any more out of town shopping centres
from being built.
Greenfield Vs Brownfield
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Why build on Brownfield Sites?
- many areas have unoccupied houses which
could be upgraded
- brownfield sites already have utilities such
as water and gas pipes
- development in urban as opposed to rural
areas can help reduce reliance on cars
Greenfield Vs Brownfield
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Why build on Greenfield Sites?
- cheaper to build on (don't have
demolition costs) and lower land-values
than in urban areas
- generally perceived as better quality
of life in the countryside
Also part 1 video the reasons and part
2 the effects
Key vocab
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GreenBelts - countryside area around an urban area
which are protected from development to restrict
urban sprawl
Brownfield Site - an area of land previously build
on where developments have been demolished and
new building can take place
Greenfield Site - an area of countryside never built
on before
Out-of-town Shopping Centres - large retail
developments found in out-of-town locations close to
major transport links.
Rural-urban fringe - where urban areas meet the
surrounding countryside
Urban Sprawl - uncontrolled growth on the edge of
a settlement
Is Asda coming to Salisbury?
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Asda have applied to build a new store
on the London road roundabout (by the
new gym and Leapfrog)
Why would some people be against this
development?
Why would some people be for this
development?