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🌆 Urban Settlements

🔑 Key Definitions​

  • Urban settlement: A built-up area with a high population density and mainly non-agricultural activities
  • Urbanisation: The increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities
  • Rural–urban migration: Movement of people from countryside to cities
  • Urban sprawl: The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural land

🏙️ Land Use in Urban Areas

Cities are divided into land use zones, each with specific characteristics.

1. 💼 Central Business District (CBD)​

📍 Characteristics:​

  • Located at the centre of the city
  • High land value → expensive
  • Tall buildings (skyscrapers)
  • Shops, offices, banks
  • Good transport accessibility
  • High pedestrian and traffic flow

❓ Why these characteristics?​

  • Central location → accessible to most people
  • Limited space → build upwards (high-rise buildings)
  • High demand → high land prices

2. 🏘️ Residential Areas​

📍 Characteristics:​

  • Located outside the CBD
  • Housing (flats, apartments, houses)
  • Quality varies (high-income vs low-income areas)

🧭 Types:​

  • High-income areas → spacious houses, good services
  • Low-income areas → overcrowded housing, fewer services

3. 🏭 Industrial Areas​

📍 Characteristics:​

  • Factories and warehouses
  • Often located:
    • Near transport routes (roads, railways, ports)
    • On cheaper land (edge of city)

❓ Why located there?​

  • Need space (large buildings)
  • Avoid pollution affecting residential areas
  • Easy transport of goods

4. 🌿 Rural–Urban Fringe​

📍 Characteristics:​

  • Edge of the city where urban meets rural
  • Mixed land use:
    • Farms
    • Housing estates
    • Airports, landfills, industrial estates

❗ Issues:​

  • Land-use conflicts
  • Pressure from urban expansion

🔄 Changes in Urban Land Use

Urban areas change over time due to:

1. 🚶‍♂️ Decentralisation​

  • Movement of people and businesses away from CBD

2. 🏚️ Urban Decline​

  • Old inner-city areas become run-down

3. 🏗️ Urban Renewal​

  • Redevelopment of old areas (new buildings, services)

4. 🌍 Urban Sprawl

  • Expansion of city into surrounding countryside

❗ Effects of Urban Sprawl​

  • Loss of farmland
  • Increased traffic
  • Environmental damage
  • Increased commuting

⚠️ Problems of Urban Areas

1. 🌫️ Pollution​

Types:​

  • Air pollution → vehicle emissions, factories
  • Water pollution → waste dumped into rivers
  • Noise pollution → traffic, construction
  • Visual pollution → litter, billboards, poor housing

2. 🚗 Traffic Congestion​

Causes:​

  • Too many vehicles
  • Poor public transport
  • Narrow roads

Effects:​

  • Time wasted
  • Increased pollution

3. 🏚️ Housing Problems

Causes:​

  • Rapid urbanisation
  • Rural–urban migration

Effects:​

  • Slums/squatter settlements
  • Overcrowding
  • Poor sanitation

4. ⚖️ Inequality​

  • Differences in wealth and access to services
  • Rich vs poor neighbourhoods

5. ⚔️ Land Use Conflicts​

  • Competition for land:
    • Housing vs industry
    • Roads vs green spaces

🛠️ Solutions to Urban Problems

🌱 Pollution Solutions​

  • Clean energy
  • Emission controls
  • Recycling

🚉 Traffic Solutions​

  • Improve public transport
  • Build bypasses/ring roads
  • Encourage cycling/walking

🏠 Housing Solutions​

  • Build affordable housing
  • Upgrade slums (water, sanitation)
  • Government planning

⚖️ Reducing Inequality​

  • Improve access to education and healthcare
  • Job creation

🌳 Managing Urban Sprawl​

  • Green belts (protected land)
  • Urban planning policies

🌍 Case Study: Urban Area

🇰🇪 Nairobi (Kenya)​

📊 Key Facts​

  • Capital city
  • Rapid urban growth
  • Major economic centre in East Africa

🏙️ Land Use​

CBD:

  • Shops, offices, banks
  • High-rise buildings
  • Heavy traffic

Residential Areas:

  • Wealthy areas (e.g. Karen) → large houses
  • Low-income areas (e.g. Kibera) → informal settlements

Industrial Areas:

  • Located on outskirts
  • Factories and warehouses

Rural–Urban Fringe:

  • Expansion into surrounding land
  • Mixed land uses

⚠️ Urban Problems​

  • Traffic congestion
  • Air pollution
  • Housing shortages (slums)
  • Inequality
  • Waste management issues

🛠️ Solutions​

  • Road expansion projects
  • Improved public transport
  • Slum upgrading projects
  • Waste management initiatives

📝 Exam Tips

💡 For “Describe land use”​

  • Name zones (CBD, residential, etc.)
  • Give characteristics
  • Use examples

💡 For “Explain changes”​

  • Give reasons (e.g. urban sprawl due to population growth)
  • Include effects

💡 For “Problems & solutions”​

  • Always:
    • State problem
    • Explain cause
    • Give solution

💡 For case study questions:​

  • Include:
    • Named place (e.g. Nairobi)
    • Specific details (not general statements)
    • Data if possible

❗ Common mistakes​

  • Only listing problems (no explanation)
  • Forgetting solutions
  • Not linking cause → effect

📌 Quick Summary

  • Urban areas have different land use zones:
    • CBD, residential, industrial, rural–urban fringe
  • Urban areas change due to:
    • Growth, migration, and planning
  • Key problems:
    • Pollution, congestion, housing, inequality
  • Solutions:
    • Planning, infrastructure, sustainable development