Urban Form Urban form relates to the physical characteristics that make up built-up areas. This includes:

  • Shape
  • Size
  • Density
  • Layout (the configuration of the settlement)

It can be considered at different scales from regional to neighbourhood and even street level.

Most settlements have largely concentric densities from the high density inner areas to the low-density suburbs. There are also edge of city landscapes contained by Green Belts or other open, and often protected, land.

Examples of factors that influence urban form:

Physical / Human
Wet points – areas that have a good water supply / Trading centres – areas grow as a result of trade
Dry points – areas that are away from the risk of flooding / Government Policy
Gap towns – towns located between two areas of high land / Globalisation – as competition and developments result in changing economies
Access to resources e.g. fossil fuels, building materials / Information and Communication Technologies – the internet.
Developments in infrastructure (transport – road networks and public transport, water, electricity…)

The significance of these factors changes with time, as some will have been very important historically while others become more important over time. Urban form evolves continuously in response to social, economic, environmental and technological developments. Often Government policies over a range of sectors can have a role to play – e.g. planning, housing and urban policy, as well as health, transport and economic policies.

  • What has influenced London’s urban form?

The 2000 year history of London has been one of constant change. It has grown from a port and river crossing point into a bustling centre of national Government and international commerce.

Physical Factors

The river Thames has had a major influence on the development of the city. London began on the Thames' north bank and for a long time the main focus of the city remained on the north side of the Thames. For many centuries London Bridge was the only bridge in or close to the city. When more bridges were built in the 18th century, the city expanded in all directions as the mostly flat or gently rolling countryside presented no obstacle to growth. The hills in the City of London, from west to east: Ludgate Hill, Corn Hill and Tower Hill, are presumed to have influenced the precise siting of the early city, but they are very minor, and most of central London is almost flat. These hills are developed in various gravel terrace deposits of the river Thames.

Watch the evolution of London over the last 2000 years:

Human Factors

London’s situation was ideal for trade with the rest of the Roman Empire: (see : )

In the modern day it has excellent communication with the rest of the UK – it is the focus of the Motorway network. It is easily conncected to mainland Europe and globally Heathrow and Gatwick are just two of London’s five international airports.

Watch this visualisation of London’s modern urban form, based on office density:

It is typical of traditional land use models to some extent. New urban landscapes have evolved – the shift of the financial hub to the Docklands and Canary Wharf is an example of this.

The processes of suburbanisation and counterurbanisation – refer to your work on these processes.

Greenbelt policy: In 1947, with the passing of the Town and Country Planning Act, London’ Green Belt came into force. It is three times larger than the city itself and halts the natural growth of the urban area.

Urban Regeneration policies – refer to your work on the strategies implemented – e.g. the LDDC.

NOTE the urban form is dynamic and the Current London Plan issued by the Mayor of London identifies the vision for London’s urban form into the future:-

  • The map shows the emphasis upon growth within the existing London boundary while protecting the Green Belt and open spaces, and with policy and transport linkages in the main development corridors into the surrounding regions.
  • It outlines growth areas of national importance: Thames Gateway and London-Stansted-Cambridge-Peterborough, as well as those of importance to the wider south east: London-Luton-Bedford; Wandsworth-Croydon-Crawley (‘Wandle Valley’) and the Thames Valley/’Western Wedge’.
  • The Central Activities Zone is highlighted together with the Metropolitan town centres which will be crucial to sustainable communities.The other main spatial categories – opportunity areas, areas for intensification, and areas for regeneration – are shown diagrammatically.
  • The Key Diagram also includes the largest new transport proposals and existing airports.

The London Plan – I am not expecting you to read it all but you should open this to see what it involves!

Outline the physical and human factors that have influenced London’s urban form.