past paper questions

Question 1

Describe two problems of urban living

Answer 1

• crime – vandalism/graffiti/visual pollution
• parking problems – safety for pedestrians and traffic
• lack of open green spaces
• lack of things to do for young people
• overcrowding – congested living space
• excess concrete leading to flooding/urban heat island
• isolation – lack of people

Question 2

Briefly explain why an urban area may experience renewal.

Answer 2

• older areas decaying – run down, polluted
• out of date facilities and infrastructure
• creation of new image – rebranding
• change in function e.g. decline in industry
• for a special event e.g. Olympics
• following a major disaster e.g. earthquakes, war damage
• increased or decreased population or change in its structure

Question 3

Explain one issue that urban renewal may create in urban settlements

Answer 3

• economic e.g. cost of renewal, increased supply of services, impact on local tax base, higher rents, impact on traffic
• social e.g. loss of homes, increased gentrification, friction between groups
• demographic e.g. impact on population structure
• environmental e.g. risk of pollution from building phase
• political e.g. resistance from those who don’t want change

Question 4

Describe the characteristics of central business districts (CBDs).

Answer 4

• vertical zoning within buildings
• multi-storey development
• concentration of retailing and offices (absence of industry)
• low residential population
• dynamic – ever-changing, redeveloping/expanding
• edge marked by transport termini
• high footfall – accessibility (pedestrianisation)
• highest site value/bid-rent

Question 5

Explain why CBDs have distinct functional zones.

Answer 5

• competition for the most accessible sites e.g. bid-rent, land values
• complementarity – support each other e.g. estate agents and legal
• mutual repulsion e.g. high class shops and clubs
• comparison activities e.g. clothes shops
• historical factors e.g. tourist areas near a castle/cathedral
• accessibility e.g. near to ring road for delivery, near parking
• planning controls/land use zoning e.g. entertainment areas

Question 6

With the aid of examples, assess the extent to which retailing is still located in the central
areas of urban settlements.

Answer 6

• decentralisation forces (high cost of CBD sites) – movement out of retailing, residential etc. to suburban or fringe locations
• increased accessibility – more flexible travel than old radial routes
• decreased accessibility into the centre – traffic congestion
• use of the internet to purchase, trade, service etc. (no need to centralise)
• competition from other nodes within the city e.g. new rival CBDs
• development of niche areas – trendy areas in the central area
• combination of retailing and other functions e.g. entertainment, transport, tourism
• business rates/taxation cheaper elsewhere + planning restrictions tighter in CBD
• pollution – due to traffic congestion and too crowded
• but, equally, CBDs remain the ‘image makers’ for retailing with tourist attractions creating retailing in the centre

Question 7

Suggest two reasons for the change in the urban population

Answer 7

• An inner urban area undergoing gentrification – wealthy move in
• An urban area maturing as migrants settle and develop careers
• An area that has been redeveloped/upgraded by the government
• Increased tertiary education so more professionals
• Decrease in BR due to education/careers for females, so household size decreases
• An area where employment structure has changed, e.g. offices replacing factories

Question 8

Explain why population numbers may increase in outer urban areas of cities in LICs/MICs

Answer 8

• Continued rural-urban migration creating high density housing on urban fringe (shanty towns)
• Higher rates of natural increase in outer areas as more youthful population
• Movement out from inner areas of industry, wholesalers, etc., to find more space (or lower costs) which pulls workers with it
• Government planning or policies such as redevelopment of inner areas
• Pushes from inner areas, e.g. pollution, congestion
• Pulls of cheaper land, less pollution, more open space

Question 9

With the aid of examples, describe how environmental factors affect the location of activities in urban areas

Answer 9

• Climate – aspect, micro-climate, wind directions, shelter
• Relief – steepness, extent of flat land, natural barriers
• Drainage – water supply, rivers as routes/bridging points, well drained soil
• Vegetation – type and amount
• Level and type of pollution
• Geology – rock type, mineral supplies, building material, fuel

Question 10

Explain why manufacturing has changed location in urban areas.

Answer 10

• Environmental reasons – increased pollution, need for more land, increased congestion in inner areas
• Economic reasons – cheaper land, increased power supply, changes in accessibility, competition, changes in sources of raw materials
• Social reasons – changes in local population, demand
• Political reasons – government policies, pollution laws, planning controls, taxation, nationalisation

Question 11

With the aid of examples, assess the extent to which planning controls are the most important influence on the structure of urban settlements.

Answer 11

• vital today in most countries in both a positive way, e.g. redevelopment, and in a negative way, e.g. green belts
• but equally they impact on land use zoning, infrastructure planning, e.g. transport, recreation provision, e.g. parks.
• Developers cannot develop/change areas without planning permission.
• But there are other influences at work – economic, social, cultural, environmental and other political factors such as taxation.
• The higher level responses may offer examples where planning controls vary in their impact or with the differing views of various stakeholders.
• There may be recognition that its influence may vary with the nature of the planning control, local environment, and scale as well as the nature of the local population.