Characteristics of Urban Land Use | Geography for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Urban land use

• In urban areas, land use encompasses the various activities that take place within towns and cities. 
• Urban settlements exhibit recurring characteristics:
  • Central Core (CBD): This is the heart of the city where most commercial activities occur.
  • Industrial Areas: Typically located in an inner-city ring surrounding the CBD.
  • Residential Districts: These are spread out in a suburban ring encircling the industrial areas.
  • Urban Fringe: The outermost zones of the city where suburban expansion takes place. 
• All towns and cities expand outward, from a historical center to an urban periphery.
• Development of each zone is driven by the evolving needs of the city over time.
• Common to all towns and cities are four distinct zones: a central core, inner-city zone, suburban zone, and urban fringe.

Central Core

The central core represents the oldest segment of a city, characterized by:

• The central business district (CBD) housing financial institutions, retail outlets, and commercial offices.
• Vertical construction due to limited space availability.
• High land value and concentrated retail and office spaces.
• Pedestrian-friendly areas to accommodate high foot traffic.
• Hub for public transportation services.
• Controlled traffic access for private vehicles.
• Low residential population density.

Inner City Zone

• Serves as a "frame" surrounding the CBD, evolving alongside it.
• Features older, compact, terraced housing catering to a dense population.
• Surrounded by aging industrial areas.
• Development is centered around transportation and manufacturing access.
• Land costs decrease with distance from the core due to increased availability.
• Residential and commercial land uses compete directly in this zone.

Suburban Zone

• Residential zones are witnessing the development of segregated areas, influenced by factors such as economic status, ethnic background, personal preference, or governmental initiatives like social housing.
• Housing options often include semi-detached and detached houses with accompanying gardens.
• Streets are often adorned with trees and cul-de-sacs.
• Commercial spaces tend to be smaller in scale.
• As one moves further from urban centers, land costs decrease while property sizes typically increase.

Urban Fringe

• Located at the outer edges of cities, the urban fringe marks the encroachment of urban development into rural areas.
• Housing tends to be concentrated in estates, leading to higher 'spot' density in these areas.
• Industrial land use can also be observed at the urban fringe, taking advantage of the available space.
• Accessibility is typically better at the urban fringe due to lesser congestion compared to the city center.
• Characteristics of Modern Urban Settlements:
  • Age and density of buildings decrease as one moves from the city core to the outskirts.
  • Architectural grandeur, function, design, and style often vary across different zones within a city.
  • Over time, changes occur in population density and land use patterns, reflecting evolving urban dynamics.

• The model simplifies the understanding of a city into zones, highlighting a core area with most commercial activity.
• The Central Business District (CBD) tends to be the most accessible, often with high land value.
• High-rise buildings dominate the CBD due to high land demand; cities like Singapore, New York, and Hong Kong are renowned for their skyscrapers and expensive land prices.

Peak Land Value

• Land gains value based on its utility, leading to higher purchasing or rental costs.
• Retail establishments, by securing prime locations, drive profitability and elevate land values.
• Spatial clustering of similar activities creates peaks and troughs in land values throughout urban landscapes.
• Two crucial factors affecting land value include its variation across urban zones and its proximity to key functions.
• Land values typically diminish from the city center outwards, with prime locations along main roads, urban centers, and encircling ring roads commanding higher prices.

Land Value Determinants

The Value of the Land

• Land value varies in urban areas.
• Typically decreases from the city center outwards.
• Higher land prices are observed along main roads, urban hubs, and around ring roads.

The Location of the Land

• The proximity to key functions influences land value positively.
• Increased accessibility and desirability enhance land value.

Bid-rent theory

• Also referred to as the 'distance decay theory', this concept explains how the price and demand for land change as the distance from the Central Business District (CBD) increases.
• Various land uses compete for prime plots to maximize their profits.
• Increased accessibility enhances the potential for attracting more customers.
• There exists a trade-off between accessibility and land costs.
• The closer a piece of land is to the CBD, the more attractive it is for retail purposes, leading to higher prices.
• Industries find it challenging to cope with high land prices as they move away from the CBD.
• Residential land gets priced out in different zones, with diminishing competition leading to a decrease in value as more space becomes available.

Urban Land Use in LEDCs

• The urban layout in Latin American cities is characterized by the Central Business District (CBD) evolving around a historic core. Radiating from this core is a commercial corridor that serves as the primary avenue.
• The main avenue hosts open spaces and residences tailored for middle to high-income residents. These zones typically feature well-maintained streets, schools, and public amenities.
• Residential areas closer to the city center boast better infrastructure and living conditions compared to newer suburbs located farther out. This difference is often attributed to the proximity of employment opportunities near the core.
• Peripheries of the city house informal settlements known as squatter housing. While newer squatter settlements on the outskirts lack basic services, established ones near the city center have relatively improved living conditions.
• Industrial zones are strategically positioned along major transportation arteries, with the latest industrial developments concentrated at the urban periphery.

Land zoning in LEDCs

• Manufacturing facilities are distributed across various parts of the city.
• Segregation based on wealth, ethnicity, and race is evident.
• Affluent individuals tend to reside nearer to the city center, occupying prime real estate.
• Less affluent populations are often pushed to the outskirts of the city.