Urban Forms Glossary

Question 1

Urban form (4)

Answer 1

Physical characteristics that make up a city
Size, shape, population density and how the city is arranged

Question 2

Bid-rent model

Answer 2

Graph showing land values falling with increasing distance from the PLVI resulting in different land use zones

Question 3

PLVI (2)

Answer 3

Prime land value intersection
the region within a settlement with the greatest land value and commerce

Question 4

Business/science park (2)

Answer 4

Tend to be found on the edge of urban areas where there’s good access to major roads
Some located near universities

Question 5

Central business district (2)

Answer 5

The most accessible part of a town or city
Highest concentration of retailing, offices and entertainment facilities

Question 6

Distance decay

Answer 6

Concept that land values decrease with increasing distance from the PLVI

Question 7

Green areas (2)

Answer 7

E.g parks
Range from large botanical gardens of national importance to playgrounds within a housing estate

Question 8

Industry (3)

Answer 8

Tend to be located towards the edge of cities where cheaper land is available
Deindustrialisation brought about large scale decline of manufacturing British cities
Former factory sites = demolished or converted into other land uses

Question 9

Informal settlements (3)

Answer 9

Slums or shanty towns
Feature in LIC
Traditionally developed on the edge of cities and can be found adjacent to transport routes and in undesirable areas

Question 10

Inner city (3)

Answer 10

Area of old housing and light manufacturing dating back to the factories Revolution
Had Factories and terraced housing providing accommodation for the workers
Areas have witnessed regeneration in last 3 decades

Question 11

Peak land value intersection (PLVI)

Answer 11

Most expensive location in a town or city

Question 12

Out of town retail developments (3)

Answer 12

Originally developed by large supermarkets
have had a negative economic impact on some towns and city centres
1994 the British government discouraged their development

Question 13

Residential (3)

Answer 13

Areas consist of housing from a range of periods
Traditionally increasing in size and price as you move towards the outskirts
Urban regeneration schemes and gentrification have meant the most expensive property can be found in ‘low cost residential areas’

Question 14

Urban morphology

Answer 14

Refers to the spatial structure and organisation of an urban area

Question 15

Cultural and heritage quarters (4)

Answer 15

Areas focus on the history or character of a city
Often home to theatres, art galleries and historic buildings
Developed by local councils to regenerate former industrial areas
Attract visitors, encourages economic development and creates jobs

Question 16

Edge city (4)

Answer 16

New areas of offices, shops and leisure facilities
Develop close to major transport links where land is cheaper
Often contain some housing
Most people travel to them for work or to use the services available

Question 17

Fortress landscapes (3)

Answer 17

Developments with lots of security
CCTV, guards and high walls
Designed around security, protection, surveillance and exclusion

Question 18

Gentrification (2)

Answer 18

Buying and renovating properties
Often in more run-down areas by wealthier individuals

Question 19

Post- modern western city

Answer 19

Many cities especially in developed countries are moving away from uniformity in architecture and from clear-cut patterns of land use

Question 20

Town centre mixed developments (4)

Answer 20

Areas in towns/ cities where land use is mixed
Luxury flats, offices, shops and entertainment facilities are located here
Residential, commercial and leisure are combined
Developments are planned by local councils often with private investment
Aims to attract people back to city centres by giving them opportunities to live, work and relax there