GCSE AQA Geog A - Urban

Urbanisation 

Growth of proportion of a country's population living in urban areas

Reduction in those living in rural areas

Causes of Urbanisation

Rural-urban migration

• Reasons in Poor countries - PUSH: shortage of services, poor living standards, PULL: improved medical care, jobs,, better infrastructure 
•  Reasons in Rich countries - mechanisation, jobs

Natural Increase

• Young people - have children, high birth rates
• Improved medical care - live longer

Parts of a city

• CBD - central area, main shopping and services
• Inner city - oldest part, poor quality housing but newer houses as well
• Suburbs - housing areas at the edge of the city, middle-class, less pollution
• Rural-urban fringe - egde, urban land uses (factories) and rural land uses (farming)

Urban Issues 

Issue 1 - Housing - Shortage of housing

Population is increasing

More people want to live on their own

• Building new towns
• Relocation incentives
• Urban Renewal Schemes 

Issue 2 - CBDs and Inner City 

Run-down, pollution, competition from out-of-town shopping centres

Changes:

• Pedestrianisation
• Better public transport
• …