This document discusses land use patterns in urban areas using models of urban land use zones. It summarizes the Burgess and Hoyt models which divide cities into concentric zones and sectors based on land value and use: The Central Business District (CBD) contains commercial areas, offices, and high density buildings. The inner city surrounds the CBD and contains high density housing and former factories. The suburbs contain lower density housing from the interwar period with gardens and facilities. The rural-urban fringe is on the edge of the city with a mixture of housing, farms, and recreational areas.

1. Guess The Cities?

2. Land use in urban areas

3. L.Os
To be able to name and describe the main
areas of a city
To be able to explain the different functions of
each area
To be able to evaluate why different land
areas have different functions and purposes.

4. Urban Zones in Leicester
The land in a city can be used for a variety of
purposes. Can you think just what different land uses
there are?

5. Rural-urban fringe
A simple model of a city layout

7. The Burgess and Hoyt models
Geographers have put together models of land use to show how a 'typical' city is
laid out. One of the most famous of these is the Burgess or concentric zone model.
This model is based on the idea that land values are highest in the centre of a town
or city. This is because competition is high in the central parts of the settlement.
This leads to high-rise, high-density buildings being found near the CBD, with low-
density, sparse developments on the edge of the town or city

8. Another urban model is The Hoyt model. This is based on the
circles on the Burgess model, but adds sectors of similar land uses
concentrated in parts of the city. Notice how some zones, eg the
factories/industry zone, come out from the CBD. This is probably
following the line of a main road or a railway.

9. • Stick your land use model into your book
• Label each part. (CBD, Inner city,
Suburbs and rural-urban fringe)
• Write brief notes explaining the uses for
each part.
• Include: Where it is found, What type of
housing and business are found there,
how valuable is the land and population
density.

10. Characteristics
The CBD is the commercial centre. It
contains the main shops such as small
specialist shops, chainstores, shopping
centres and department stores. Offices,
financial institutions and administrative
buildings of the city such as town halls
are found here as well as many facilities
such as pubs, clubs, restaurants,
theatres and cinemas It is usually the
most accessible (easy to get to) part of
the city. This is because most of the main
roads and railways lead here so bus and
train stations are found here too.
Buildings tend to be tall and all of the
land is densely packed with buildings
with very little open space and greenery.
Land Values
Land values tend to be very high, this
is because big businesses want to
locate here. It is cheaper to build up
than out so buildings are often multi
storey. Also, there is a limited amount
of open space available. New
developments (e.g. Highcross) tend
to focus on redeveloping existing
areas rather than using the limited
open space available.
The Central Business District (CBD)
Population Density
During the day the CBD has lots of people.
This is due to the high number of shoppers,
and shop and office workers. However, the
CBD has a limited number of houses but
will have some expensive flats due to the
high land values in this area.

11. The Inner City
Terraced Housing
Victorian Factories

12. Characteristics
This area is typically found next to
the CBD and contain high density
19th Century housing and factories.
They were originally built to house
factory workers who worked in the
local factories many of which have
now closed. Houses are usually
small and terraced often without
gardens. The streets are narrow and
often straight and form a grid pattern
on a map. This area tends to be run
down unless housing has been
redeveloped or gentrification has
occurred. This area usually
experiences social and economic
problems. Highfields, Clarendon
Park and Belgrave are inner city
areas in Leicester
Land Values
Land values are lower than those in
the CBD. However, they still remain
high as the inner city is close to the
CBD.
Population Density
Population density in the inner city is very
high. To save money planners wanted to
house as many people into a smaller
space as possible. Nowadays these
areas often have large ethnic minority
populations.
The Inner city

13. The Suburbs
Examples of this
zone in Leicester are
places like
Stoneygate, Oadby
and Knighton

14. The Suburbs
Characteristics
This area contains houses built during the inter-war period (1930's). Many of the
houses found in this zone are semi-detached and detached. The houses are
characterised by their front and back gardens, driveways, garages and bay windows.
Streets are often cul-de-sacs and wide avenues. Stoneygate is known as the ‘Leafy
Suburbs’ as there are many mature trees there. More modern housing estates have
been built in the late 20th century as towns and cities have continued to grow. These
areas often have facilities like parks, schools, supermarkets. The suburbs are often
the homes to commuters who need to get to the CBD along the main roads and this
area is also within easy reach of the countryside.Land Values
Cheaper than in the CBD and inner
city which is why the houses are
larger and have bigger gardens.
Some areas are very desirable
which can make them expensive.
Population Density
Because the houses have more
space than the inner city the
population density is lower. It is less
crowded.

15. The Rural - Urban Fringe
In Leicester, the area of
Evington Village is a good
example, as are new
developments in places
like Hamilton and Oadby
This area is
found on the
edge of the city
where the city
meets the
countryside

16. Characteristics
The urban rural fringe contains a
mixture of land uses. This area
includes housing, recreational
facilities such as golf courses,
parks, garden centres and has
farming areas next to it.
These areas tend to contain
areas of better quality housing
(usually detached) .Gardens and
houses are larger due to lower
land values and more open
space is available. There is
usually a mixture of private and
council-owned housing.
Areas of private housing usually
consist of low density, high
quality housing although modern
developments often have many
houses squeezed into an area.
The layout of these areas are
usually crescent shaped and cul-
de-sacs.
Land Values
Low land values. Therefore larger
houses with sizeable gardens,
driveways and garages are located
here.
Population Density
Low population densities exist in
this area.