Urban zones
Urban areas have a wide range of activities that take place throughout them. These activities
can be grouped in to zones were particular types of activities are found predominantly in one
area. The main zones found within an area are as follows:
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Central Business district (CBD)
Nineteenth century housing
Nineteenth century industry
Twentieth century housing
Twentieth century industry
Greenbelts
Dormitory or satellite settlements.
CBD
The Central Business District (CBD) in the city centre is where most business and commerce is
located. It is the geographical centre.
The CBD is easily identified by the following
features:
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High/multi-storey buildings
Expensive land values
Shops are department stores or
specialist shops, like jewellers
Modern shopping malls and pedestrian
precincts
Cultural/historical buildings, museums
and castles
Offices, finance, banks, administration,
town hall (business sector)
Bus and railway stations (transport
centres)
Multi-storey car parks
The CBD is located in the centre because it is:
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A central location for road/railways to converge
The most accessible location for workers
Accessible to most people for shops and businesses
Nineteenth Century Housing
This is part of the inner city and is found in the areas around the inner city. This area grew
rapidly during industrialisation in the nineteenth century.
The nineteenth century housing is
easily identified by:
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A mixture of high density
tenement/terraced housing
Rectangular ‘grid iron’ pattern
Busy roads pass through the
housing
Often near nineteenth century
industry
Lack of open space
These areas can often be described as slum areas. In recent years these areas have seen
large changes. (See future notes)
Nineteenth century housing is located here because:
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Workers needed to be near the industries
Land is cheaper outside the CBD
Nineteenth century industry
This is also part of the inner city area, which surrounds the CBD. It grew rapidly during
industrialisation.
The nineteenth century industry is easily
identified by:
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Next to transport – railways, canals or
rivers
Near to nineteenth century housing
(Labour)
Large buildings, densely packed
Very little open space
This area has often become run down and derelict in recent years and some areas may be
undergoing redevelopment.
Nineteenth century industry is located here because:
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Needs good transport links for transporting raw materials
Needed a near by labour force
Land is cheaper outside the CBD
Twentieth century housing
Twentieth century housing can be both private estates and local authority housing.
Twentieth century housing is easily
identified by:
Lower density housing (semi-detached,
detached and low rise flats)
Street patterns are more varied, with
cul de sacs and curved roads.
Far more open space
Busy roads avoid housing estates.
On the outskirts away from industry.
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Twentieth century housing is located here because:
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There is more space to build on
Land prices are cheaper
Twentieth century industry
This is usually found on the very outskirts of a city.
Twentieth century industry is easily
identified by:
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Twentieth century industry is located here because:
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Land values are lower on the outskirt
Easily accessible due to high ownership of cars
Room for expansion
Sites have room for expansion
Good transport links – major
roads and motorways
Nearby labour force
Open green areas which are often
landscaped
Greenbelts
These are areas used by planners to control the spread of urban areas in to the rural
landscape. It is found at the edge of urban areas on the rural- urban fringe.
It is an area of open green space characterised by golf courses, country parks, airports and
market gardens.
The development in green belt areas is heavily restricted. The stated objectives of green belt
policy are to:
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protect natural or semi natural environments;
improve air quality within urban areas;
ensure that urban dwellers have access to countryside, with consequent educational and
recreational opportunities; and
protect the unique character of rural communities which might otherwise be absorbed
by expanding suburbs.
Dorimotory or satelitie settlements.
Small rural settlement which have good transport links (rail, motorway). They are used as
commuter settlements and have a large resident population, but as very few of them actually
work in the village, there is nobody to support any services. The commuters will do their
shopping and banking in the city where they work. This means that these settlements will have
fewer services than their population suggests they should have. Some commuter settlements
are changing their services to cater for the different residents, with restaurants and cafes
replacing the traditional village services.
Task
Answer the following questions in sentences.
1) What is the CBD?
2) Explain the growth and conditions of the zone containing nineteenth century
industry. (Where did it grow up, why did it grow up here and what would the
environment be like ?)
3) What is the green belt and why is it important?
4) Get a a copy of the table from your teacher and complete it.
5) Give the sheet with the table on a title.