urban sprawl and commuter settlements Flashcards
define urban sprawl:
the expansion of an urban area into areas of countryside that surrounds it.
define ‘rural-urban fringe’:
the border between built-up areas (city) and greenfield sites.
how does the Government aim to increase urban sprawl?
Government wants to build 83,000 homes built by 2026 in a bid to ease the region’s housing crisis. Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne raised the concern of vast urban sprawl from Totton to Waterlooville that could become a reality if the controversial south-east plan isn’t altered.
what are the environmental challenges of urban sprawl?
- green fields are swallowed up due to housing developments.
- animal habitats and plant species are lost.
- traffic congestion, air and noise pollution.
what are the social challenges of economic sprawl?
- new roads and other infrastructure is often built up, leading to traffic congestion, air and noise pollution.
- settlements will join together to create a continuous urban area.
- open recreational spaces are lost.
define ‘commuter settlement’:
a commuter settlement is a town where people work elsewhere but they live, eat and sleep in these towns.
- usually lie on the outskirts of big cities where residents often work and commute in by train or car.
why would someone choose to live in a commuter settlement?
overall quality of life is better.
- air and noise pollution is less.
- house prices are lower.
- crime rates are lower.
- traffic congestion is less.
- more open space.
- housing is often bigger, with gardens.
what are the economic, environmental and social challenges with commuter settlements?
economic: commuter settlements often have no industry and few jobs.
social: less community with so many people spending time in a larger settlement.
environmental: commuters have to travel sometimes long distances to work. this is costly, time consuming, and creates noise and air pollution.
