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GCSE-Unit 3- Topic 2- Settlement Change (year 5-2015)

2.1 Settlements have developed in order to carry out different functions in society. These functions vary both from place to place and over time as societies change and develop.Learning outcomes• Be able to define settlement types, site, situation and shapes.

• Identify factors influencing site and affect situation (e.g. transport networks).

• Explain that growth can be affected by physical factors (e.g. villages in Welsh valleys).

• Define the different functions of settlements and show how these change over time.

What is a settlement? A settlement is a place where people live. A settlement may be as small as a single house in a remote area or as a large as a mega city (a city with over 10 million residents).

A- Factors affecting settlementsMost large settlements in HICs are multifunctional and perform a range of functions such as retail, education and industry. When settlements first started to grow, most had only one distinct function, and others developed as the settlement grew.

1- The functions of settlements6 main functions:a- Residential: to give people a place to live. Known as dormitory or commuter settlements. Characteristics:-Few services, little industry. -Often close to larger towns or cities where the inhabitants work.b- Market centres: provides services for the local areas.Characteristics:-often found in fertile farming areas. In the past farmers would have brought their produce to sell at the weekly market in the town. -good transport links-many services-a weekly marketc- AdministrationCharacteristics:-often county towns that employ a large number of people as civil servants-centres of local government.d- Strategic: built in a location that used the physical geography to protect them from attack.Characteristics:- on top of hills e.g. Windsor next to the River Thames- on the inside of meander bends e.g. Warkworth in Northumberland- Beside a gap in a range of hills- On an island in a river e.g. Ile de la Cite, Parise- Industrial: to provide jobs in secondary industryCharacteristics:-Located on coalfields-good access to railways and canals-Newer industry on the outskirts, near main roads. E.g. Green Park Science Park in Reading, close to the M4 junction 11.f- Tourist resortsdevelopment with the arrival of the railways.

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Number of different locations:- coastal locations for recreational purposes by the sea e.g. Brighton- Spa towns for the healing properties of the waters e.g. Bath- Settlements in National Parks e.g. Malham in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.- Major cities such as London

If we group and classify a number of settlements according to their size and shape, the result is a settlement hierarchy.

Pyramid showing relationship between population and services

The number of services that a settlement provides increases with settlement size. Small settlements will only provide low-order services such as a post offices, doctors and newsagents. Large towns, cities and conurbations will provide low and high-order services such as leisure centres, chain stores and hospitals.

Map Reading Skills for Unit 1Site and situation of a settlementSite: the land on which a settlement is built.Situation: location relative to its surroundingsShape of settlements: the pattern the settlement makes. This refers to the way that the buildings are arranged. How to describe the pattern of settlements on a map.

2- CASE STUDY: How the functions of a UK settlement have changes over time. P170/171Example: Aberfan, South Wales. Time line of changes:-First sited as an agricultural village in the bottom of the valley close to the River Taff- Industrial revolution: coal found in the valley opening of the coal mine in 1875 industrial settlement- 1989: Mine closed. New function: residential. Commuter village and retirement settlement.

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3- Changes to rural communitiesLearning outcomes• Define counter-urbanisation and rural depopulation.

• Identify the demographic, social, economic and environmental changes to rural communities caused by counter-urbanisation and the depopulation of remote areas.3.1 Counter-urbanisationDefinition: movement out of cities to rural areas. Process happening in MICs/HICs for the last 50 years.Learn Three reason for this movement:a- Urban areas: less pleasant places to live due to increase in pollution, crime and traffic.b- Increase in car ownership and road networks: allow people to live further from their place of work.c- There is an ageing population and people tend to move to countryside when they retire.Question catcher: Explain why people migrate into rural areas. (4) Use an example in your answer.CASE STUDY: reasons for people to migrate to Skye, one of the Western Isles (Scotland)- Good accessibility: in 1995: bridge which gave a direct link to the mainland. Two good ferry links.Function of Skye: Agricultural but main industry tourism.Reasons for people to migrate to Skye:-They are involved in tourism-Retired people- People taking advantage of modern ICT and telecottaging. (Working from home using computer)

Learn the impacts of this movementQuestion: Explain the changes to rural communities/areas caused by counter-urbanisation. (6)Negative impacts: (4)1- Many of the migrants still work in urban areas therefore the journey to work can cause congestion and pollution.2- House prices in rural areas may rise as demand increases. This means that local people cannot afford to buy a house and have to move away from their local area.3- Many of the migrants do not support local businesses and do their shopping in the urban areas where they work.4- The traditions of the village are not valued by the newcomers; therefore there can be a loss of community spirit.Positive impacts: (3)1- Local schools have an increase in pupils and are able to stay open.2- Some local services are supported such as public houses, local tradesmen (for example builders)3- Old derelict farm buildings are turned into habitable dwellings which add to the aesthetic value and community well-being.

3.2 Depopulation of remote areasQuestion: Explain the changes to remote rural areas caused by depopulation. Use examples in your answer.(6)Depopulation: loss of population. For instance: During the twentieth century, the population of the Western Isles of Scotland declined by almost a half and in 2001 alone, the population shrank by 10%. Why? - Limited job opportunities and low wages. - Difficulties of transport and access to cities and services.- The ambitions of young adults

Socio-economic consequences of depopulation:- The closing down of services, such as shops, post offices and public transport. In 2001, 45 per cent of people living in remote areas did not live within 4 km of a doctor’s surgery or a Post Office. 70 per cent of rural settlements are without shops and 75 per cent are no daily bus service. - Loss of young adults which affect the population structure: fewer children and the population as a whole become

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older.- Closure of many primary schools due to fewer children. - Lack of easy accessibility to health care system: In Cornwall the only major hospital is situated 100 miles away. 83 per cent of remote rural settlements are without GP.

B- Changing land use in urban areas

UK: Main reasons for changes over the last 30 years:1- increased demand for housing2- Need to adjust to deindustrialisation

Learning outcomesUsing local or national examples: Explain the impact of changing social and political factors (later marriages, increased divorces, age structure) on

the demand for housing. Outline the impact of increased wealth leading to growth in number of owner occupiers. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of Greenfield and brownfield sites. Define renewal and redevelopment. Explain how old industrial sites can be redeveloped.

1- Reasons for the increase in the demand for housing:The reasons for (social, economic and political) and consequences of the need for more housing, including the use of brownfield and greenfield sites, and urban sprawl.a- Social reasonsQuestion: Outline how changing social factors have increased the demand for housing. (4)1- People are now marrying later in life- the average age had gone up from 24 in 1960 to30 in 2010.2- There has also been a rise in the number of divorces which means that a family is not living as a group but is living in two different dwellings.3- There is also the added problem of an ageing population. Many people now live on their own or with their spouse until they are in their 70s and 80s- this means that morehouses are needed for the younger generation.

Greater demand for new homes, particularly those for single people or married couples large increase in the number of one-and two-bedroom properties.b- Economic reasons1- The population of the UK is now wealthier than ever before, It then follows that people can afford to buy or rent properties at anearlier age and no longer have to live with their parents.2- There has also developed an attitude of ‘buy now and pay later’ which means that many people in their twenties do not save money but spend it on mortgage rather than saving up until they have a deposit.

c- Political reasons-In 2000 it was predicted that the population of the UK would rise by 4.1 million between 2001 and 2021 need for more houses. Sustainable Communities policy produced by the government 3 million new homes by 2020. Designation of growth areas such as the Thames Gateway area. Development of eco-towns- new towns designed to be much more sustainable than traditional settlements.

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2- Development of brownfield and greenfield sitesExplain how the movement of secondary industry to NICs has left a legacy of brownfield sites, that could be used for housing.Much of the manufacturing that once took place in the UK has now moved to other parts of the world, particularly Asia. The most obvious signs of deindustrialisation are derelict buildings and vacant, unused land- in short, there are plenty of brownfield sites. Those towns and cities that were once important centres of manufacturing are faced with the challenge to find new uses for empty factory buildings or to clear them and their waste heaps and so make way for some new land uses.

Urban sprawl: when housing sprawls over large areas of countryside.

Questions: - Explain the advantages and disadvantages of developing on: (i) brownfield sites (6) (ii) Greenfield sites (6)

Use examples in your answer.

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Brownfield site:A brownfield site that has experienced renewal and redevelopment is in Norwich. It is a large site comprising 17 hectares and is located south-east of Norwhich City Centre, on the banks of the River Wensum. The site has been redeveloped over a number of years. The redevelopment has seen the building of an entertainement complex, a large shopping centre and more than 200 residential units.New foot and cycle bridges have been built across the river to give better access to the area.Outline the factors contributing to the development of ‘gated suburbs/communities’.A gated community is a group of homes shut away in a high-security compound, with CCTV cameras, electronic gates and sometimes even private security guards. Entry is restricted to residents and vetted visitors. They are common in brownfield developments. They are designed to offer a safe environment that provides personal security and protects private property. This neighborhood concept helped residents to reduce uncertainty and provide self and family protection against unwanted intrusion. They allow parents a greater degree of freedom when it comes to letting their children play outside. ‘The number one reason why many people move to these gated communities is to feel safe,’ says one security industry expert. ‘They pay a lot of money for the privilege of feeling secure in their own homes and being able to go on holiday without being burgled.’

Greenfield siteBracknell in Berkshire is seeing significant growth with a large new housing development on a greenfield site to the west of the town. Peacock farm estate is situated next to the A329M and is close to the M$ for easy access for residents. The development includes14,000 new homes, 91 acres of country parkland, a doctor surgery and two primary school.

C- Rapid growth in LICs

Question: Explain the reasons for the rapid growth of urban areas in LICs. Use examples in your answer. (6)

Reasons for the rapid growth of urban areas in LICs: In-migration of rural population and natural population increase.

Two examples: Cairo (Egypt) and Mumbai (India)

In 2008, Cairo, Egypt’s capital, has a population of an estimated 18 million people. The city population has increased by more than six times in the last 60 years. While the in-migration of rural population has represented one of the major fueling factors for this urban expansion, recent studies have shown that this is no more the case. While in 1960 35% of Cairo’s inhabitants were born outside the city, by 1996 this number had reduced to 12%. The capital’s growth is now due mainly to natural population increase due to an increased life expectancy which went up from 41 years in 1960 to 70 years in 2010 and to the incorporation of surrounding villages and rural populations.

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Mumbai (India). The population of Mumbai has increased from 8 million in 1971 to 21 million in 2011. The causes of urban growth are multiple, but involve a high level of natural increase within Mumbai itself and in-migration principally from the surrounding district of Maharashtra but also from neighbouring states. Migrants in Mumbai constitute close to 15 per cent of its population.Mumbai booming economy means that migrants come for job opportunities in the expanding industries, financial institutions and administration.

Question : Explain the effects of rapid urban growth in a chosen LIC urban area. (6) CairoAir pollution-Housing problems- Water pollution. (i)Air pollution

Housing problems

(iii) Water pollution