Urban structure

Here are some facts about urban structure that you should learn for your exam.

• The central part of most cities contains shops and offices and is called the Central Business District (CBD).
• Land values (price per square metre) increase the closer you get to the CBD.
• Most cities have distinctive areas or zones of land use.
• The oldest buildings are usually closest to the CBD.
• Transport routes, e.g. roads, railways, rivers and canals influence the location and different land use zones.

When talking about urban structure you will have to refer to urban models. Read about the models below before you attempt to answer this question.

Look at these typical exam questions.

Question 1

These two urban models are thought to be typical of the structure of UK towns and cities from 1850 - 1950.

Look at model A (Burgess)

a. Describe the location of each type of land use.
b. Give one reason to explain why each type is located there.
 

Urban Model A - Burgess

This is a very simple urban model (and quite easy to remember). As the city grows, newer buildings are built further away from the centre.

• Zone 1 - Business is attracted to the centre to be easily accessible. Competition for space leads to high prices.
• Zone 2 - Industry developed in the UK in the nineteenth century, and factories were built around the CBD. Housing for workers was built close to the factories.
• Zone 3 - People then moved further out into newer residential areas as transport developed.
• Zone 4 and 5 - Today many people prefer the space and cleaner environment on the edge of the city and often commute to work or work in new out of town (green-field) sites.

The Answer

Here are some answers to the questions. Look how they are laid out.

(a)

Zone 1 is the city centre or the Central Business District, mainly made up of shops and offices. This is surrounded by Zone 2, which is factories and industry. Zone 3 is working class housing. Zone 4 is the outer residential zone. Zone 5a is outside these rings and is often an area of commuter housing, in large villages.

(b)

Zone 1 - CBD - is central location for accessibility. Housing cannot usually afford the high land prices found here.

Zone 2 - Factory zone - industry located here in the nineteenth century (which was then the edge of the city).

Zone 3 -Working class houses - built close to the factories so people could get to work easily (they could only really afford to walk to work).

Zone 4 - Residential zone - as transport developed people who could, moved away to bigger houses near the edges of the city.

Zone 5 - Commuter zone - many people now live outside the city in cleaner environments, either commuting to work or working in new greenfield sites.

Question 2

2. Look at model B (Hoyt)

• (a) Describe the main differences between model B and model A
• (b) Give two reasons to explain these differences.

Urban Model B - Hoyt

Model B has developed from the simple concentric rings in model A. There are now wedges or sectors of land use. Many UK cities have structures similar to this one.

• This model takes into account physical features like rivers or transport links like roads. (Zones 2,3 and 5b)
• Industry may have developed in a sector following a good transport link, helping it get goods in and out. (Zone 2)
• A new housing development may have been built because of a new road linking it to the rest of the city.

The Answer

(a) The main differences are:

The sectors or wedges of different land uses, which stretch out from the CBD.

Different types of housing are located on different sides of the city e.g. working class to the west and middle class to the east.

(b) These differences are explained by:

Physical features have been included in the model e.g. river flood plains were not always suitable land for housing so industry was built there. Transport features e.g. industrial areas followed the railway lines or a major road allow the development of new housing on the edge of cities.

Happening Hint

• You should use the key of the diagrams so the examiner knows exactly what you are writing about.
• Part a) in the question is describe, part (b) is explain, don't muddle them up.
• You will need to learn a case study of a city. To help you with this follow the advice in Further things to do.