1.6 Urban settlements: Identify and describe land use zones in urban areas.

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IGCSE Geography (0460) – Objective 1.6: Urban Settlements – Identify and Describe Land‑Use Zones

Learning outcomes & assessment objectives

  • AO1 – Knowledge: Name the main urban land‑use zones and describe their dominant functions, typical physical features and examples.
  • AO2 – Application: Explain why each zone is located where it is, using the syllabus‑specific concepts (transport accessibility, land‑value gradient, planning policy, physical constraints, gentrification, urban sprawl, mixed‑use development, regeneration).
  • AO3 – Analysis & Evaluation: Analyse the advantages and disadvantages of the spatial arrangement of zones and evaluate how well they meet social, economic and environmental sustainability objectives.

Why study urban land‑use zones?

  • Interpretation of land‑use maps, satellite images and GIS data (Geographical Skills).
  • Linking urban form to topics such as population change, economic development, resource provision and environmental impact.
  • Assessing the effectiveness of planning policies and proposing improvements.

Glossary of key terms (syllabus vocabulary)

Term Definition (concise)
Land‑value gradient The systematic decline in land price as distance from the CBD increases.
Transport accessibility Ease of reaching a location by road, rail, water or air; a primary driver of where activities locate.
Planning policy / zoning legislation Local or national rules that designate land for specific uses (e.g., green‑belt, new‑town, mixed‑use).
Physical constraints Natural features (rivers, hills, flood‑plains, coastline) that limit where development can occur.
Gentrification Upgrading of inner‑city areas that attracts higher‑income groups and often displaces low‑income residents.
Urban sprawl Low‑density, car‑dependent expansion of the built‑up area beyond the traditional suburban fringe.
Mixed‑use development Planning approach that combines residential, commercial, leisure and sometimes institutional uses within the same neighbourhood.
Regeneration Targeted investment and redevelopment of declining urban areas to improve economic performance and quality of life.

Major urban land‑use zones

Zone Primary functions Typical physical features UK example International example
Central Business District (CBD) Finance, corporate offices, major retail, transport hub, legal & professional services High‑rise towers, very high land values, dense road & rail network, limited housing London – City of London New York – Manhattan Financial District
Inner‑city (Older residential) Housing, small‑scale retail, mixed‑use, cultural heritage Narrow streets, terraced or back‑to‑back houses, historic buildings, relatively high density Birmingham – Digbeth Tokyo – Shitamachi districts
Suburban residential Predominantly housing, local services (schools, shops), commuting base Detached/semi‑detached houses, private gardens, cul‑de‑sacs, lower density, car‑oriented streets Leeds – Headingley Melbourne – Glen Waverley
Industrial zone Manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, distribution Large plots, easy road/rail access, lower land values, often on city fringe or near ports Sheffield – Sheffield Industrial Estate Shanghai – Pudong Industrial Area
Commercial / shopping zone Retail, leisure, hospitality, services for residents & visitors Shopping centres, high‑street stores, car parks, pedestrianised streets Reading – Oracle Shopping Centre Dubai – Dubai Mall
Recreational / leisure zone Parks, sports facilities, cultural venues, open space Green open land, stadiums, theatres, museums; often protected by planning policy London – Hyde Park Paris – Parc des Buttes‑Chaumont
Institutional zone Education, health, government, religious and civic services Schools, hospitals, universities, council offices; usually sited on larger parcels Oxford – University Campus Singapore – National University Campus
Peripheral / edge zone Planned mixed‑use (new‑towns) **and** organically‑grown satellite towns; housing, retail, light industry, transport links Modern grid or radial layout, integrated road/rail, green‑belt buffer; unplanned satellites may show irregular streets and informal housing Planned – Milton Keynes; Unplanned – Milton‑Abbey (London commuter fringe) Planned – Chandigarh (India); Unplanned – Al‑Mansoura (Egypt)
Informal / slum zone Low‑cost, often illegal housing; limited access to services; high population density Self‑built shacks, narrow alleys, inadequate water, sanitation and electricity; located on marginal land (riverbanks, hillsides) London – informal settlements in the borough of Newham (e.g., “illegal” caravan sites) Kibera, Nairobi (Kenya); Dharavi, Mumbai (India)

Typical spatial models that illustrate zone arrangement

  • Concentric zone model (Burgess) – CBD at the centre, surrounded by a ring of transition/inner‑city, then working‑class residential, middle‑class residential, and finally commuter‑towns.
  • Sector model (Hoyt) – Growth follows transport corridors, creating wedges of similar land‑uses radiating from the CBD.
  • Multiple‑nuclei model (Harris & Ullman) – Large cities develop several specialised centres (e.g., secondary business district, university campus, industrial park).

Diagram suggestion: Combine the three models in a single composite figure to show that real cities usually display elements of each.

Factors that determine the location of each zone (AO2)

  1. Transport accessibility – CBDs grow around railway stations, ports and major road junctions; industrial zones need road/rail links for freight; suburban residential areas develop near motorways and commuter rail.
  2. Land‑value gradient – Highest values in the CBD, falling outward; this gradient pushes high‑value offices to the centre and low‑value factories to the fringe.
  3. Historical development – Older cities retain compact inner‑city patterns from medieval or industrial eras; newer cities often have a more dispersed layout.
  4. Planning policy & zoning legislation – Green belts, new‑town designations, mixed‑use policies and restrictions on industrial land shape the spatial pattern.
  5. Physical constraints – Rivers, hills, flood‑plains and coastlines limit where zones can be sited and may force development onto higher ground or into reclaimed land.
  6. Socio‑economic forces – Gentrification pushes higher‑income households outward; demand for affordable housing creates dense peripheral estates; urban sprawl results from desire for larger homes and car ownership.
  7. Regeneration & mixed‑use development – Local authorities encourage redevelopment of declining inner‑city areas into combined residential‑commercial‑leisure sites.

Contemporary trends and changes (AO3)

  • Urban sprawl – Low‑density housing spreads beyond the traditional suburban fringe, increasing car dependence and loss of agricultural land.
  • Regeneration & gentrification – Inner‑city districts are redeveloped for mixed‑use (apartments, offices, leisure); often displaces low‑income residents.
  • Mixed‑use development – Planning policies now encourage residential, commercial and leisure uses within the same neighbourhood to reduce travel distances.
  • Green‑belt erosion and new‑town expansion – Pressure for housing leads to the creation of satellite towns and gradual encroachment on protected countryside.
  • Smart‑city infrastructure – ICT networks and sustainable transport (tram, cycle lanes, electric buses) are reshaping the function of traditional zones.
  • Growth of informal settlements – Rapid urbanisation in many LICs creates slum zones on marginal land, highlighting the need for inclusive planning.

Evaluation of the spatial pattern of land‑use zones

Aspect Advantages Disadvantages / sustainability concerns
CBD concentration Efficient business clustering; excellent public transport; high economic productivity. Very high land prices; congestion and air pollution; social exclusion of low‑income groups.
Suburban residential Better living conditions, green space, lower crime rates. Car dependence, urban sprawl, loss of farmland, higher per‑capita infrastructure costs.
Industrial zones on the fringe Lower land costs; easy freight movement; reduced pollution in the city centre. Potential “industrial deserts”, long commutes for workers, possible land‑use conflict with nearby housing.
Mixed‑use regeneration Creates vibrant, walkable neighbourhoods; reduces travel distances; stimulates local economy. Risk of gentrification, rising rents, loss of affordable housing.
Peripheral new towns & satellite settlements Planned infrastructure; alleviates pressure on the CBD; opportunity for sustainable design. May become commuter “dormitories” if jobs are not local; can strain regional transport networks; unplanned satellites may lack services.
Informal / slum zones Provides low‑cost housing for rapid urban migrants; contributes to labour supply. Inadequate water, sanitation and electricity; high health risks; insecure tenure; often located in hazard‑prone areas.

Links to other IGCSE Geography topics

  • Topic 6 – Changing populations: Urban land‑use zones respond to population growth, migration and demographic change (e.g., demand for more suburban housing).
  • Topic 7 – Changing towns and cities: The zones listed form the core of the “urban structure” sub‑section; drivers such as rapid urbanisation, housing shortages and urban renewal are directly related.
  • Topic 8 – Development: Contrasts between HICs (well‑planned mixed‑use) and LICs (informal settlements, inadequate zoning) are illustrated by different zone patterns.
  • Topic 9 – Changing economies: The shift from manufacturing to service‑based economies is reflected in the expansion of CBDs and the decline of traditional industrial zones.
  • Topic 10 – Resource provision: Planning of residential zones must consider water, energy and waste services; industrial zones require reliable power and transport.

Geographical skills associated with land‑use zones (AO2)

  • Interpreting colour‑coded land‑use maps, satellite imagery and GIS layers.
  • Constructing and analysing cross‑section diagrams that illustrate the land‑value gradient.
  • Fieldwork techniques – site observation, photographic evidence, questionnaires on residents’ satisfaction with local amenities.
  • Using GIS to overlay transport networks, population density and zoning maps.
  • Statistical analysis of employment data by zone (e.g., % of workforce in CBD vs. industrial area).

Case study – London (illustrates most zones)

  1. CBD: City of London – finance, high‑rise towers, major transport hub.
  2. Inner‑city: East London (Whitechapel, Shoreditch) – historic terraced housing, recent gentrification.
  3. Suburban residential: Richmond, Croydon – detached houses, green spaces.
  4. Industrial: Docklands – former warehouses, now mixed‑use with logistics.
  5. Commercial/shopping: Westfield Stratford City, Oxford Street.
  6. Recreational: Hyde Park, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
  7. Institutional: University College London, St Thomas’ Hospital.
  8. Peripheral / edge: Milton Keynes (planned new‑town) and unplanned commuter settlements on the outer fringe such as parts of the London commuter belt.
  9. Informal / slum zone: Small illegal caravan sites and “squat” areas in Newham and Tower Hamlets, illustrating the presence of low‑cost, insecure housing within a high‑income city.

Students can compare this pattern with a rapidly urbanising city in a lower‑income country (e.g., Nairobi) to discuss how economic development level influences the form and function of land‑use zones.

Key points to remember (AO1)

  1. Urban land‑use zones are distinct areas where a particular activity dominates (e.g., CBD – finance; industrial – manufacturing).
  2. The location of each zone is controlled by transport accessibility, land‑value gradient, historical growth, planning policy, physical constraints and socio‑economic forces.
  3. Modern cities increasingly feature mixed‑use development and regeneration, which blur traditional boundaries.
  4. Evaluating the arrangement of zones involves weighing economic efficiency against social equity and environmental sustainability.
  5. Understanding zones underpins many other IGCSE topics – population change, development, economic shifts and resource provision.

Quick‑scan of the notes against the 0460 syllabus (Topic 7 – Changing towns and cities)

Syllabus requirement What the notes do well Where they fall short Actionable fix
All required urban zones (CBD, inner‑city, suburban, industrial, commercial, recreational, institutional, peripheral/new‑town) All eight zones are listed with functions, features and examples. Missing informal/slum zone; peripheral zone only described as planned. Added “Informal / slum zone” and expanded peripheral zone to include unplanned satellite settlements.
Depth & accuracy of AO1 (knowledge) Clear definitions, functions, examples; includes three classic spatial models. Key terminology not defined; land‑value gradient only implied. Inserted a glossary box with essential terms and explicitly labelled each factor with the syllabus term.
AO2 (application & skills) Lists factors, models, GIS suggestions, and a set of skills. No explicit link between each factor and a real‑world example. Provided brief examples within each factor (e.g., transport accessibility – London’s Canary Wharf, land‑value gradient – property prices radiating from City of London).

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