Urbanisation Chapter Notes | IGCSE Oxford Geography Foundations for Year 6 - Class 6 PDF Download

Why is Learning About Settlements Important?

• Settlements have a direct impact on our daily lives as most people reside in some form of settlement (village, town, city etc.)
• Understanding settlements helps appreciate the needs/challenges of people living there (housing, transportation, amenities etc.)
• Aids in making informed decisions about where to live in the future based on personal preferences and settlement characteristics
• Provides insight into urban planning issues faced by town planners in managing growth, land use, public services etc.
• Enables understanding of how transportation choices and environmental policies can improve quality of life in settlements

How were the sites for early settlements chosen?

• Site selection was critical for early settlements, driven by availability of natural advantages
• Protection was a key factor - settlements located on hilltops/elevated areas for defense and warning against attacks
• Water supply was vital for drinking, cooking, washing - proximity to rivers, springs, wells was preferred
• Flat land suitable for construction of shelters and agriculture was desirable
• Ease of transportation via river crossings/fords was an advantage
• Nearby resources like wood for fuel/construction and stone for building materials were beneficial
• Example of Warkworth village highlights ideal site with river, flat land, elevation, nearby resources like wood/stone

What different settlement patterns are there?

• Dispersed pattern - Buildings spread out across a large area, common in highland regions where terrain didn't allow concentrated construction. More land needed for crops/livestock.
• Nucleated pattern - Buildings tightly clustered together, developed for communal security reasons. Typical in lowland Britain.
• Linear pattern - Settlements strung along a road, river valley or other linear landscape feature due to lack of open space.

How do settlements change with time?

• No settlement remains static, undergoing changes in shape, function, land use and population over decades
• Shape can transform from tightly clustered to dispersed suburban sprawl as a settlement grows
• Function may shift from agricultural to industrial/commercial or residential overtime
• Land use evolves based on economic activities - from farms to housing or commercial zones
• Population changes due to migration patterns, employment opportunities, amenities
• Example traces transition of a typical 1890s village of tightly packed cottages and farmworker population to a dispersed, suburbanized settlement by 2010

What are the benefits and problems of settlement growth? 

Benefits:

• More housing options to buy or rent available for growing population
• Increased job opportunities across varied sectors, potentially higher paying
• Better reliability of food supplies through more shops/supermarkets
• Improved transportation connectivity reduces work/shopping commutes
• Access to better civic services and amenities like schools, hospitals, recreation
• Attractions like entertainment, cultural events cater to varied interests

Problems:

• Traffic congestion on roads not designed for high vehicular volumes
• Air, noise, visual pollution from traffic and industrial activities
• Inadequate affordable housing supply, rise in home prices
• Growth of slums/dilapidated areas with lack of amenities
• Higher crime rates in underdeveloped areas
• Unemployment due to skills mismatch or economic shifts
• Strain on civic infrastructure and public services

Why are there different land use patterns in towns?

• Towns develop distinct zones over time based on the nature of activities
• Central Business District (CBD) - Oldest part of town, concentrated commercial hub with shops, offices, no housing
• Inner City - Former industrial areas, old worker housing projects like tenements
• Inner Suburbs - Larger semi-detached houses with some open spaces developed in early 20th century
• Outer Suburbs - Modern larger houses, shopping malls, business parks established since late 20th century

Why does land use in towns change?

• Urban redevelopment projects revitalize and transform old dilapidated areas
• Example of London Docklands redevelopment in 1980s - cleared old docks/warehouses, replaced industries
• Brought new office spaces for tech/finance firms, modernized housing, upgraded transportation links
• Improved environment with green spaces but also gentrification issues
• Some groups benefited (new businesses, skilled workers) while others were displaced (older residents, job mismatch)

Where do we shop?

• Shopping patterns depend on the type of goods and convenience of access
• Convenience goods (food, newspapers etc.) bought at nearest stores for ease
• Comparison goods (clothes, furniture etc.) bought at larger shopping destinations after evaluating options
• City centers traditionally had biggest cluster of stores but issues like congestion
• Large out-of-town malls developed to provide ample parking and accessibility by roads

How has shopping changed?

• Rise of out-of-town shopping malls/centers at edges of cities easily accessible by cars
• Offer parking, variety of stores/amenities like food, entertainment under one roof
• Led to decline of some city centers and local small stores unable to compete
• Increased dependence on cars/personal vehicles for shopping
• Environmental concerns like increased pollution, traffic in surrounding areas
• Some restrictions on new mall developments to revive city centers

Traffic in urban areas - why is it a problem?

• Rapid increase in number of personal vehicles on roads not designed to handle such high volumes
• Causes problems like traffic jams/congestion hampering mobility, pollution, noise, delays in emergency services
• Old city layouts with narrow roads from pre-automobile era not suited for modern traffic
• Density of roads/intersections in cities and lack of parking exacerbates troubles
• Through-traffic of vehicles just passing through adds to traffic woes
• Concentration of traffic during peak hours/rush hour chokes roads

Traffic in urban areas - is there a solution?

• Integrated policies needed to tackle root causes like vehicle numbers and road capacity
• Traffic management solutions like pedestrianization, parking restrictions, road pricing
• Improving public transport with dedicated lanes, efficient systems to reduce car dependence
• Park-and-ride facilities, working from home can help reduce traffic volumes
• Urban planning reforms to create more sustainable communities with jobs-housing balance
• Stricter vehicle emission norms, shift to cleaner fuels to reduce pollution

Where should the by-pass go?

• By-passes are alternative roads built to route traffic away from congested areas
• Process is complicated - requires funding, route planning, public consultations
• Factors like cost, environmental impact, sentiments of residents affected need consideration
• Longer by-passes circumvent entire cities, shorter ones redirect traffic around small towns
• Opinions vary on ideal by-pass routes between stakeholders with different priorities