Development of Rural Urban Fringe (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Rural-Urban Fringe
Also called the urban fringe, it is where green, open spaces meet the built-up areas of towns and cities
Growth at the urban fringe is due in part to counter-urbanisation, population growth, lack of space and spiralling land costs
These can be divided into push (negative factors causing people/businesses to leave central urban areas) and pull factors (positive factors pulling people/businesses to the rural-urban fringe)
Push and Pull Factors - The Urban Fringe
Push | Pull |
|---|---|
Housing is old, congested and relatively expensive | Land is cheaper so houses are larger and have gardens |
There are various forms of environmental pollution – air quality is poor, and noise levels are high | Factories can be more spacious and have plenty of room for workers to park their cars |
Companies find that there is a shortage of land for expansion or building shops, offices and factories | Closeness to main roads and motorways allows for quicker and easier customer contacts |
Brownfield sites are expensive to build on due to the added costs of cleaning the land (especially if contaminated with asbestos) prior to building; plus there may be restrictions on what can be built | Closeness to main roads and motorways allows for quicker and easier commutes for car drivers and access for lorries |
Access for heavy goods vehicles is limited or difficult, adding to congestion and air pollution | Changing working patterns thanks to technology, e.g. flexible working, working from home, etc. |
Changes along the urban fringe
Some of the biggest changes in the urban landscape can be seen in the rural-urban fringe
Growth at the urban fringe is due in part to counter-urbanisation, population growth, lack of space and spiralling land costs
Other than new housing estates, there are also:
Retail parks - large sphere of influence due to being easily accessible, ample free parking, the concentration of businesses in one place, longer opening hours, large choice of goods
Industrial estates - space for expansion, purpose-built road networks, cheaper land, sited away from housing
Business parks - space is created for a nicer working environment, easier access and commute for workers, the area is specifically created for office space and includes a conference hotel
Science parks - purpose-built to encourage research and development (R&D), high-tech industries and other quaternary activities, close to a university and transport networks (including airports) to allow for knowledge transfer
Airports - increase in air traffic and low-cost carriers, but also airports feed into businesses on the fringe through imports and exports but also knowledge with speakers and investors having easy access to businesses
Motorways and ring roads - feed into ease of access for residents, workers, lorries, buses, cars etc.
Greenfield Vs Brownfield Debate
Urban growth involves building on land, which is in short supply in the urban centres
This makes the open land around the urban fringe desirable for housing, industry, shopping, recreation and public utilities such as reservoirs and sewerage works
However, some feel too much countryside is being lost through this outward growth of towns and cities
Some urban areas have a planned and protected greenbelt on which no development is allowed, but urban areas still need to grow
This means two choices, either build on a greenfield or brownfield site
With all land uses there are arguments for and against each type of site
Advantages and Disadvantages of Brownfield and Greenfield Sites
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
Brownfield | Helps revive old and disused urban areas Reduces the loss of countryside for agricultural or recreational use Services such as water, electricity, and sewage, are already in place Located near to main areas of employment. Reduces the risk of squatter settlements developing | Often more expensive because old buildings must be cleared, and land made free of pollution Often surrounded by rundown areas so does not appeal to wealthy people Higher levels of pollution |
Greenfield | Healthier environment Close to the countryside, leisure, and recreation The layout is not restricted by the existing layout Relatively cheap and the rate of house building is faster Access and infrastructure easier to build | Valuable farmland lost Encourages further suburban sprawl Wildlife and habitats lost or disturbed Recreational space and attractive scenery lost Lacks access to public transport Development causes noise and light pollution in the surrounding countryside Cost of installing services such as water, electricity, sewage etc. |
There are no clear winners in this debate
It depends on the particular land use:
Housing is flexible in terms of where it could be built, but shops and offices need more space and specific locations
Depends on the needs of the town or city
What value is the greenspace really to the town or city?
The issues and costs in reusing the brownfield site (asbestos etc.) need to be considered
Example Case Study - Southampton's Rural-Urban Fringe
Southampton has a population of over 270,000 with detached suburbs or commuter dormitories
Pressure from developers resulted in green belt restrictions being relaxed
Motorways were added through the green belt, giving Southampton good access all round
As a result, certain types of businesses have been allowed to build on a limited number of sites
Major Developments in Southampton's Rural-Urban Fringe
Business | Function |
|---|---|
Nursling Industrial Park | Located beside the M271, this large estate has service industries of which distribution and storage are the main ones |
Southampton Science Park | In a prime location close to the London M3 motorway, the 17-hectare park provides high-quality office and laboratory space in attractive landscaped surroundings. Over 60 companies, dealing in high tech research fields, sit side by side resulting is a thriving community of young and old sharing ideas and knowledge. All are attracted by the park’s strategic location, quality of the environment and access to some of the UK’s leading scientific expertise at the University of Southampton |
Hedge End Retail Park | Located just off the M27 and is one of the largest out-of-town retail parks in the South of England. Home to Marks and Spencer, Sainsburys, Currys/PC World, and many more stores |
Adanac Business Park | Approved in 2008, with a 74-acre site and is home to the Ordnance Survey (OS), which produces all the maps of the UK. The park is earmarked for major office developments and large space occupiers - such as the Ordnance Survey |
Worked Example
Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of developing greenfield sites.
(4 Marks)
1 mark for the initial explanation
1 mark for development through further explanation or exemplification
Possible Answer:
Advantage: Greenfield sites are often flat and uncontaminated (1) which makes it cheaper to develop land compared to the clearing cost of brownfield sites (1)
Disadvantage: Uses permeable land which, when developed, increases surface run-off (1) which can increase urban flood risk in an area (1)
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