The Rural-Urban Fringe

What is the rural-urban fringe?

It is the area where the city meets the countryside.

Recently there has been increasing demand for land here

because:

Land is cheaper There is less traffic congestion and

pollution There is easier access and a better

road infrastructure There is a more pleasant

environment with more open space

What do developers want the land for?

Housing developments as urban sprawl continues

Science and business parks Hyper-markets and superstores Retail parks & out of town shopping

centres Office developments Hotels and conference centres Airport expansion

Shopping CentresWhy do they want to locate at the RUF?

Room to expand

Space for parking

Cheap land

Close to motorways

Local suburban work force

Leisure facilities can also be provided

The Trafford Centre, Manchester Opened 1998. 5.5mn people, almost 10% of the UK’s

total pop live within 45 mins drive. 2005 – 29.4mn people visited More than just a shopping centre –

1,600 seat food court, bowling alley, Laser Quest, 20 screen cinema.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5PMwGXCNaU&feature=related

Advantages & DisadvantagesAdvantages: good motorway links, own bus

station, 11,000 free parking spaces, services (banks, PO, travel agents), crèche, weatherproof & air con, disabled facilities.

Disadvantages: Congestion & pressure on local roads, artificial atmosphere, big chains, as too expensive for local shops, effected Manchester’s CBD – Marks & Spencer's realised there mistake when they first didn’t chose to locate in the centre. Some stores have left central Manchester.

Housing

Why is housing built at the RUF?

Land is cheap

More housing is needed as more people are living alone and living longer.Peace and quiet

Less crime

Good access to countryside

Easy access to motorways

GATM video

Airports Massive increase in air traffic predicted by

2030. Low cost carriers such as Easy Jet are

increasing their routes and passenger numbers.

New Terminal 5 at London’s Heathrow airport

Problems: noise & air pollution, more traffic in the area, loss of biodiversity, visual pollution.

What are the problems caused by developing the RUF? Large areas of countryside may be

lost Buildings may be out of character

with existing rural buildings Villages become suburbanised Traffic is likely to increase ( both cars

and lorries) There may be some noise or pollution NIMBYism

How can change at the RUF be managed?

Creating ‘Green Belts’ – a zone of countryside around a city where development is controlled.They aim to:

Prevent urban sprawl Prevent towns merging Preserve the special character of townsNOT ALL CITIES HAVE GREEN BELTS. Examples include London, Oxford and Bournemouth.However, greenbelts are often leap-frogged and

development happens just outside it. 1100 hec lost each year since 97.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/avdb/news_web/video/9012da68001e538/bb/09012da68001e72d_16x9_bb.asxBBC Video clip – How they have benefited England.

How can development at the RUF be managed?

New Townse.g Stevenage At the end of the second world war

towns were created just outside London’s green belt to prevent London spreading and give people a better way of life.

Other Policies

In recent years the Government has tried to reduce pressure on the RUF by encouraging development of brownfield sites over greenfield sites, and stopping any more out of town shopping centres from being built.

Greenfield Vs Brownfield Why build on Brownfield Sites?

- many areas have unoccupied houses which could be upgraded- brownfield sites already have utilities such as water and gas pipes- development in urban as opposed to rural areas can help reduce reliance on cars

Greenfield Vs Brownfield Why build on Greenfield Sites?

- cheaper to build on (don't have demolition costs) and lower land-values than in urban areas- generally perceived as better quality of life in the countryside

Key vocab GreenBelts - countryside area around an

urban area which are protected from development to restrict urban sprawlBrownfield Site - an area of land previously build on where developments have been demolished and new building can take placeGreenfield Site - an area of countryside never built on before

Out-of-town Shopping Centres - large retail developments found in out-of-town locations close to major transport links.

Rural-urban fringe - where urban areas meet the surrounding countryside

Urban Sprawl - uncontrolled growth on the edge of a settlement