1. Urban Processes

2. Urban Processes can be seen as inward and outward movements
Inward Movement (Centripetal)
Rural to urban migration, gentrification, re-urbanisation, urban renewal
Outward Movement (Centrifugal)
Suburbanisation, urban sprawl, counter-urbanisation

3. Urban Processes Sustainable city? Suburbanisation
Counter -urbanisation
Urbanisation
Sustainable city?
Re - urbanisation

4. Urbanization is the increase in the percentage of a population living in settlements which could be classified as urban areas.

5. Reasons for Urbanisation
Countries reach stage 2/3 of DTM
Natural increase in population
Rural to urban migration (push/pull factors, obstacles/barriers, Stepwise model, Zelinsky’s model, Lee’s Model, Turners model)
Industrialisation

6. Urbanisation Leads to urban growth (the expansion of cities)
Primate cities
“Centres of production”
Need for housing, and other urban services
Informal sector, public housing
Now mainly LEDCs and NICs
Definition – Urban growth is the growth of cities in terms of size of land area and population.

7. Suburbanization is the increase in the numbers of people living in the residential areas near the edge of the city (suburbs) leading to the outward growth of urban areas.

8. Reasons for suburbanisation
Rapid urban growth leads new residential areas being built in suburbs
Social problems and overcrowding in inner city areas cause richer people to move to suburbs
Improving public transport
Linked to de-industrialization such as shipbuilding, warehouses or factories closing

9. Suburbanisation Urban sprawl
Separate smaller settlements merge into larger multi-centric conurbations
Pressure on rural/urban fringe
Increased segregation
A vicious circle of decline in inner city areas. “Donut cities”

10. Counterurbanization is the movement away from the urban centres to smaller towns and cities or rural areas

11. Reasons for counter-urbanisation
Increased car ownership
Increased wealth
De-industrialisation
Relocation of industry/employment to rural urban fringe
Desire for safe, pleasant environment, the rural ideal/utopia
Perception of urban areas as dangerous, high levels of crime, racial/ethnic problems – ‘white flight’
Change in tenure from public/renting to private ownership. Sell property and move out.

12. Counter-urbanisation
People move to satellite settlements within the city’s sphere of influence
Increased numbers of people commuting to work in the city
Increased car use
Transport triangle becomes bigger
Rural areas become suburbanised
Rural areas can become commuter /dormitory settlements
Rural areas within a city’s sphere of influence can develop

13. Transport triangle
WORK
HOME
LEISURE

14. Reason for re-urbanisation
Parts of urban areas which have declined but still have an intrinsic value because of centrality or quality of housing stock attract people
Government sees urban decline as a problem and invests money to regenerate an area
Prestige project – Olympics
Tertiary sector increases, restaurants, nightclubs and retailing attracting people

15. Re-urbanisation Cities become “centres of consumption”
Gentrification – Richer people moving into poorer areas
Run-down derelict parts of cities can be redeveloped
Increased economic activity within cities
Cities reinvent themselves as exciting vibrant places to live

16. Sustainable city
Maintain population, particularly economically active people. Develop human resources.
Economic growth.
Infrastructure and urban services.
Quality of life.
Environmental impact. Ecological footprint.
Circular metabolism.
Green design and architecture.
Energy efficiencies. Carbon neutral city. (Masdar)