WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
Changing housing and
service provision in more
developed countries
Hodder Education Revision Lessons
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WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
How has housing in urban and rural
areas changed?
• Why is more housing in urban areas being built on
brownfield sites?
• Restricting housing developments on greenfield sites and
greenbelts. Will this change?
• What does sustainable housing mean and what effects
does it have?
• Should we demolish or improve existing housing?
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WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
Building housing in urban areas on
brownfield sites
Brownfield sites are derelict sites where buildings may have
been left empty or demolished.
Question: Explain three advantages of building on a
brownfield site instead of building on a greenfield site.
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WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
Building housing in urban areas on
brownfield sites
Three advantages of building on a brownfield site instead of
building on a greenfield site:
• It removes an eyesore, so local house prices will increase.
• It means that habitats are not destroyed, so animals are not
displaced.
• There is existing infrastructure, e.g. roads, electricity and
water, so it will be cheaper to build.
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WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
Restricting housing developments on
greenfield sites and green belts
• A greenfield site is land that has not been used previously
for building but it can be built on.
• A green belt is land on the edge of urban areas that has not
been used previously for building and it cannot be built on.
Question: Explain three advantages of building on a
greenfield site instead of building on a brownfield site.
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WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
Restricting housing developments on
greenfield sites and green belts
Three advantages of building on a greenfield site instead of
building on a brownfield site:
• There are no buildings to demolish, so it is cheaper and
easier to start development.
• Greenfield sites provide space for gardens, so it is better for
families who will have safe places to play.
• There are no existing road plans to restrict your planning, so
you can build what is best for the development.
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WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
Restricting housing developments on
greenfield sites and green belts
Greenbelts were created to
try to reduce urban
sprawl. This is where the
urban area increases
outwards.
Question: Explain two
problems caused by urban
sprawl.
Reproduced from Ordnance Survey map data
by permission of the Ordnance Survey ©
Crown copyright 2011
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WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
Restricting housing developments on
greenfield sites and green belts
Answers could include:
• Increased length of journeys,
as people commute to the CBD
from the edge of the city for
work or to use shops/services,
so there is more congestion and
air/noise pollution.
• An increasing amount of land
is concreted with roads, so there
is an increased flood risk.
• Loss of habitats, so animals
are displaced.
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WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
What does sustainable housing mean
and what effects does it have?
Our houses use a lot of energy and this contributes to climate
change.
Eco or sustainable housing tries to meet housing needs for
people now and in the future.
Our housing needs to be sustainable economically,
environmentally and socially.
(1) How can housing be socially sustainable?
(2) How can housing be economically sustainable?
(3) How can housing be environmentally sustainable?
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WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
What does sustainable housing mean
and what effects does it have?
(1) How can housing be socially sustainable?
Houses must be good for the community, now and in the
future. For example:
• social areas for people to meet and mix, e.g. parks, green
spaces, community centres
• mixed tenure so creates a positive mixed community
• mixed house types so people don’t have to move away as
their needs change
WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
What does sustainable housing mean
and what effects does it have?
(2) How can housing be economically sustainable?
Houses must be affordable, now and in the future. For example:
• shared ownership with housing association
• help for first-time buyers, e.g. no stamp duty
• stepped ownership where the tenant buys more of the property over time
(3) How can housing be environmentally sustainable?
Housing must not damage the environment, now and in the future. For
example:
• solar panels, wind turbines, double/triple glazing and insulation all reduce
energy needs and therefore the amount of carbon dioxide produced
• plant roofs reduce flood risks
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WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
Should we demolish or improve
existing housing?
Some of the housing in our urban areas is unfit for use and
can either be demolished for new developments or improved.
Tower blocks were built in many urban areas in the UK in the
1950s and 1960s. Since then, many of these tower blocks
have been demolished. However, some have been improved
to make them better places for people to live.
Question: Explain how tower blocks could be made more
sustainable.
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WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
Should we demolish or improve
existing housing?
How could tower blocks be made more sustainable?
• Some of the flats could be made bigger by knocking two small flats
into one. The space could be used to create more bedrooms, which
would be good for families or a larger living space for people who
want to live nearer to the city centre.
• Provide more double/triple glazing with larger windows. This will
reduce the need for heating/lighting and mean lower bills and also is
better for the environment because less carbon dioxide is produced.
• Remove some of the flats to create community space like play areas
or meeting areas, or use it for car parking which would help local
residents.
• Can you think of any others?
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WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
What does sustainable housing
mean and what effects will it have?
Question: Explain the advantages of improving tower
blocks instead of demolishing them.
WJEC (B) GCSE Geography
Theme 1 Topic 4
What does sustainable housing
mean and what effects will it have?
Advantages of improving tower blocks instead of
demolishing them:
• It is cheaper to refurbish than to demolish and rebuild,
so this saves money for the council.
• Tower blocks don’t use up a lot of land, so there is less
green space lost, so fewer habitats are destroyed.
• It doesn’t create landfill and less energy is used in
constructing the new building, so there is a lower impact
on climate change.
• Can you think of any others?