case study: an urban area (including changing land use and urban sprawl)

•case study: Monks Cross

•location: 3km North East of York City Centre, north of A1036 Malton Road and inside York outer ring road

•history: •prior to late 1990’s it was rural in nature 

              •lies East of Huntington - a once free standing village being absorbed by York’s eastern urban sprawl 

              •area was mainly farmland, with arable fields, gentle slopes and hedgerow boundaries 

              •poorly drained areas near streams used by livestock or nature - most woods are gone

              •Brockfield Park is the site of the housing and development of Monks Cross

•new houses south of Huntington e.g Geldof Road 

•considerable loss of green space due to development and road construction 

•recent developments 

          •continued population growth led York to follow a trend of geographical expansion 

          •new housing and residential facilities such as schools and clinics were built in Huntington as it’s population increased by 3000 in 10 years

          •in 1998, the first phase began, comprised of well known chain stores for goods and clothing

          •it was accompanied by building fast food outlets, petrol stations, roundabouts and car parks

          •the Vanguard Shopping Park, costing £90 million, opened in 2014

          •has been expanded to 31 outlets with 100,000 visitors in peak weeks

          •reorganising of existing stores, to create a large Primark (45,000 sqft) in 2016

          •Vangarde shopping centre 339,000 soft is among the highest ranked developments in the UK

          •the shopping park as the North’s first flagship John Lewis and the region’s largest M&S with a 30,000 sqft Next and 1340 parking spaces

          •boasts a picturesque Community Plaza for shoppers to relax, using trees and plants to ensure the park is environmentally-friendly and is sustainable 

          •new York Community Stadium will provide an 8000 seat stadium for the football and rugby league, a swimming pool and new cinemas etc. 

•impacts of urban sprawl at Monks Cross

          •loss of farmland due to large scale development 

                    •3km2 of farmland built on since 1998 - replacing crop and arable land 

                    

          •permeable surfaces replaced by impermeable ones

                    •combined with reduced vegetation means less interception and infiltration 

                    •surface run off increases amount and speed of drainage into River Foss, increasing

                     flood hazard 

          •traffic congestion 

                    •many use Malton Road to travel to Monks Cross and many in Huntington expanded

                     to commute to work in the city

          •atmospheric pollution from increased traffic along Malton Road

                    •emissions of nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and dioxide meant reduced air quality

                    •First Buses who operate the Park and Ride have introduced a fleet of electric buses

          •habitats destroyed by developments 

                    •many hedgerows destroyed, containing many bats, birds and woodland and insects

                     e.g the Great Crested Newt (protected species) and Primrose 

                    •ponds were relocated following rules of Nature England

          •much spending by visitors

                    •creation of hundreds of jobs at Monks Cross with a regional catchment area

                    •free parking and increasing customer choice, high class shopping and leisure 

                    •turnover of £568 million in York, with 10% leakage to Monks Cross

          •new housing and services built in Huntington 

                    •many new homes built e.g New Road

                    •services like Huntington Health Care Centre, Yearly Primary School and Fisheries

explain the problems of urban areas, their causes and possible solutions

Problems	Solutions
Decline of the CBD in cities in MEDC’s •congestion •lack of parking spaces •high land prices •retailers leaving •decentralisation of companies and administration	Pedestrianisation  •allows a safer, relaxed environment  •less air and noise pollution from vehicles Shopping Malls •undercover shopping areas  •air conditioned malls and restaurants  Visual Improvements  •flower beds, seated areas, trees  •pavements and cafés and bars Transport Improvements •underground railways
Security in the CBD during the evenings  •high crime rates •litter •graffiti •vandalism	Security  •police / private security firm patrols •CCTV as a deterrent to thieves
Twilight Zone on the edge of the CBD •derelict land and buildings •high rates of crime and social problems	Redevelopment  •these areas’ buildings could be redeveloped by the  government
Crime and Racial Conflicts (MEDC and LEDC) •high levels of poverty •development of ghettos in inner MEDC’s and  informal settlements in LEDC’s  •many may join gangs due to domestic stress levels	Facilities  •providing social facilities such as sports clubs •ensuring adequate policing on the streets  •providing language lessons for immigrants  Dedicated Projects •zero tolerance on crime  •job creation schemes to provide employment
Squatter Settlements in LEDC’s •residents do not own the land and could be evicted •houses are not weatherproof •no proper sanitation and water supply •no electricity, but it may be illegally supplied  •no local employment since it’s on the outskirts •long journeys to central areas with little transport •extreme poverty and high unemployment  •overcrowding in rooms with disease   •high levels of crime and drug and alcohol abuse	Housing  •low-cost housing schemes  •piped water, sewer and electricity provision •self-help schemes that provide groups of people  with materials to build properly
Housing Shortages in MEDC’s •caused by older properties in the CBD, needing  renovation  •a population increase through immigration and  natural growth •property prices are too high for those who are on  low wages	New Housing  •slum clearance schemes •older housing replaced by blocks of flats •newer houses being built on the suburbs  •new towns being built in the countryside  •land may be reclaimed from the sea e.g Japan
Traffic Congestion in MEDC’s and LEDC’s  •ancient cities built long before public transport  means narrow roads and close buildings •increase in use of private cars •large number of work commuters meaning too  many transport vehicles available  •lots of tourism in the CBD  •people may pass through the city	Transport •underground railways  •bus lanes •integrated transport policies  •trams •making it more affordable and more frequent Infrastructure  •congestion charge •electronic ticketing  •traffic lights •roundabouts  •ring roads  •park and ride schemes

Air Pollutant	Source	Problem
Carbon Monoxide	•vehicle exhausts	•reduces oxygen supply to the  heart
Carbon Dioxide	•vehicle exhausts  •power stations •industrial processes •domestic heating	•greenhouse gases assist global  warming
Nitrus Oxides	•vehicle exhausts  •power stations	•lung irritation •leads to ozone formation
Ground Level Ozone	•reactions involving vehicle  exhausts	•photochemical smog leads to eye  and lung irritation
Particulate Matter	•construction dust •soot from open fires •diesel vehicles	•smog causes respiratory  diseases
Sulphur Dioxide	•vehicle exhausts  •power stations	•lung irritation •acid rain
Lead	•exhaust gases from leaded petrol	•harms the kidneys, liver, nervous  system and other organs

•solutions to air pollutants 

          •laws to control the emissions from industry and housing e.g smoke free zones

          •carrying out checks on vehicle exhausts and removing polluting vehicles

          •higher taxes for the most polluting vehicles 

          •reducing the amount of electricity generated from thermal power stations 

          •developing new power stations that do not release carbon dioxide into the air 

          •have time slots for industries to be in action 

•problems of water pollution 

          •raw sewage in rivers 

          •contamination of drinking water leading to health issues such as diarrhoea and dysentery 

          •liquid waste of industry or domestic waste may mix with drinking water

          •sewage may be untreated 

•solutions to water pollution 

          •improve sanitation

          •improve the infrastructure of the area 

          •harsh regulations for waste dumping 

          •treat the sewage 

•problems of visual pollution

          •smog from the pollution means ugly and dark skies

          •graffiti 

          •litter

          •construction 

          •derelict land or ugly buildings with industry 

•solutions to visual pollution

          •stricter planning regulations

          •improve litter collection 

          •building nicer buildings in derelict land 

          

•problems of noise pollution 

          •cars, lorries and trains and aircrafts can be noisy 

          •factories and large congregations of people like football crowds or parties

          •construction work may be an issue in high density area

•solutions to noise pollution

          •laws which limit noise from factories and homes

          •separating noisy areas from residential areas

          •building solid fences to reduce noise

describe and give reasons for the characteristics of, and changes in, land use in urban areas

•the CBD: •government buildings 

                 •high order retail 

                 •offices and major HQ

                 •theatres, hotels and restaurants

                 •old, historic buildings

                 •multi-storey buildings

                 •public transport services

                 •few residents during the night-time in the CBD 

                 •zoning of different functions in different parts of the CBD for comparison shopping or business contacts

                 •vertical zoning of retail on the lower floors and offices on the upper floors

                 •high numbers of pedestrians in pedestrian areas

•reasons for the development of the CBD

          •the CBD was the original growth of the settlement 

          •roads converged at the CBD, making it the most accessible area, making it very desirable for retailing 

          •land prices became high, eliminating certain services, leading to taller buildings for area 

          

•high density housing: •plenty of housing

                                    •high density areas / terraced housing 

                                    •many apartment buildings

                                    •housing is close together / tall skyscrapers

                                    •close to the city centre / may have CBD features 

                                    •usually in the older parts of town in poorer MEDC areas 

•reasons for the land use of high density housing

          •closer to the CBD means less reliant on transportation links

          •investors will look into this area for a high potential profit

          •high density areas new very desirable ad so many would be residents

          

•low density housing: •detached / semi-detached housing more modern than the CBD

                                   •agricultural space with open areas

                                   •fewer transportation links with long, single roads

                                   •very few services around 

•reasons for land use of low density housing 

          •plenty of space for agriculture and animal stock expansion

          •if there are valuable metals and minerals in the earth, the government may specify this area for fracking

          •if this type of land is sparse, the government may wish to put this in a natural reserve 

•old industrial areas: •manufacturing 

                                 •factories

                                 •steel, textiles and traditional

                                 •near peasant housing

•reasons for old industrial areas

          •near rivers and railways for transportation 

•new industrial areas: •business shops

                                   •steel, woods, shops, cement factories

                                   •offices 

                                   •warehouses 

•reasons for new industrial areas

          •closer to road links so that customers can access 

          •space for them to build and parking rooms with cheaper land 

•rural-urban fringe: •agricultural land meeting popular land-use areas

                               •some areas may have a green belt 

                               •science parks, business parks, new road developments, hotels, conference centres, landfill sites, sports areas and stadiums 

•reasons for the rural-urban fringe changes

          •recreational and farming

          •out of town shopping

          •use of offices, business parks and industrial estates and farmers 

          •have car parking spaces for shopping facilities 

          •counter-urbanisation 

          •gardens for homes and nature reserves 

          •no air pollution

          •good transport links with airports and park and ride services 

          •modern design with a low cost to build 

•the urban structure in MEDC’s

          •in urban areas, the cost of land is different (higher / too high in the CBD)

          •certain land uses do not mix - high quality housing next to industry 

          •particular land-uses may continue to establish that way 

•Burgess Concentric Ring Model

          •the CBD is the growth point with an intersection of major roads

          •there is greatest accessibility of transport and the highest land values

          

          •new immigrants move to inner-city areas with cheap housing close to employment

        

          •housing quality and social class change with increasing distance from the city-centre

          •increasing affluence and developing transport allow people to live further away 

          

          •as the city grows, all circles push outwards with gaps called the transition zone - the change of residential to commercial 

•Hoyt’s Sector Model

          •based on transport routes and the repel of certain land use types

          •industry develops along major roads and rivers

          •heavy manufacturing industry and high class areas are never next to each other

          •other areas are similar to the Burgess Model 

•the urban structure in LEDC’s

          •the MEDC models do not apply in LEDC’s as the high-class residential areas are close to

           the centre whilst the low-class areas are nearby 

          •the CBD is based on markets and commercial areas has a sector of shops and offices leading from a major transport route, with high-class on either side 

          •housing gets worse as you move out with squatter settlements - manufacturing tends to be scattered although there may be industrial sectors along transport routes

•changes in urban land use

          •decentralisation of industry and commercial business

                    •factories and houses were built next to each other during the Industrial Revolution

                    •redevelopment has taken place to replace low-quality housing and remove industry

          •redevelopment of brownfield sites

                    •they have been replaced by inner ring roads, retail parks and recreational facilities

                    

          •decentralisation of people, services and employment

                    •this dispersal is encouraged by transport improvements

                    •this can lead to an outward spread of the urban area - suburbanisation 

          •renewal of buildings

                    •many old factories and warehouses have been brought up to date, regenerating old buildings

          •urban sprawl spreading outwards

                    •the spread of the CBD means changes in the surrounding rural areas - greenfield sites may become developed 

          

•causes of urban sprawl / rapid urban growth

          •mainly caused due to suburbanisation and the decentralisation of industry

          •lots of car pollution in the town centre means a need for expansion

          •housing is cheaper on the outskirts, so therefore many may choose to move there

          •an increase spend on infrastructure and transport makes urban sprawl easier to create

•prevention / solution of urban sprawl / rapid urban growth 

          •preserving the countryside is important so the government creates green belts

          •there are tight planning restrictions as these areas are used for agriculture and recreation 

          •brownfield sites may be developed in the town centre

          •old factories may be cleared for redevelopment as they can’t build on greenfield areas

          •pedestrianised areas of traffic free areas, creating a safer more relaxed atmosphere

          •shopping malls allow a quick browse and are air-conditioned appropriately 

          •visual improvements e.g flower beds and street cleaning makes it more welcoming 

          •security means shoppers can feel safe when purchasing high end goods

•effects of urban sprawl / rapid urban growth 

          •decline of retailing due to increased car ownership leading to congestion 

                    •many DIY stores have moved to brownfield sites as well as department stores

                    •land is cheaper here and there is often more parking 

                              •this means fewer will shop in the CBD and more shops will leave - perception

          •decentralisation of companies and administration

                    •accessibility, high land values and parking meant many companies are moving

                    •electronic communication has reduced the need to be close to other similar types

          •high car dependency 

                    •increase in vehicle emissions and higher public transport costs 

          •high levels of racial and socio-economic segregation as well as loss of rural life and changing the character of the countryside 

                    

          •during the evening

                    •the CBD can be empty in the evening if only bars, restaurants and nightclubs are open

                    •this might also make it unsafe - with high crime rates

                    •higher costs to provide social facilities 

                    •high car usage means higher emissions 

                    •this may cost more to build public transport services

                    •time may be lost through commenting,  reducing productivity