Whether the Burgess land use model is still relevant in the modern day

Urban land use models are designed to help us understand how towns develop. Although towns and cities have no exact match, the models are designed to show that every urban area has its similarities. Since models rarely take into account things like hills and rivers, there are no guarantees that the model will be completely accurate. I am using the Burgess model because it was one of the most successful land use models- it may well be similarly successful in the modern town. A man called E.W Burgess designed an Urban Land use model, naming it after himself. It was designed in his home country of America, in the city of Chicago. This is what he designed: Burgess' theory was that people competed for limited amounts of space. Only people who that the zones were arranged concentrically, different in age and character. Burgess believed that the housing became newer, and the residents became wealthier, the further they got from the CBD. The people who could afford the best land got it, people like businessmen. The poorest groups were left with the worst locations. Burgess believed that different zones of the city had different functions. These are the sections of the city that he identified: * Central business district – contains the major shops and offices, and is the centre for commerce, entertainment and transport. * Wholesale light industry- This is where the oldest housing in the city is. Such housing is usually deteriorating into slum property. Some areas are also being taken over by light industry. The locals tend to be immigrants or poorer social groups. * Low class residential- Inhabited by people who have managed to escape from the previous zone. They work in nearby factories, and have no choice but to live there so they can get to work quickly and cheaply. * Medium class residential- The housing is of a better quality, and is mostly semi detached and council estates. * High class residential- Occupied by people who can afford the most expensive properties and the high cost of properties, and the high cost of commuting. This zone also includes the commuter villages beyond the edge of the city, although there were few in Burgess' time. The Burgess model is also linked to the bid-rent model. The amount of money different land users are willing to pay for the land depends on their location- the CBD has the most expensive rents. It is the most accessible area as most transport services are focused on the city centre, and main roads meet here. The more accessible a location, then the easier it is to get there. Therefore, people prefer to have work locations that people can access easily, and are also prepared to pay more for them. The Burgess Model also ignores the fact that nearly all towns are affected by physical features such as rivers, lakes and hills. It also ignores heavy industries, and housing redevelopment. Also, in 1924, there was not so much dependence on transport as there is today. Other weaknesses in the model include the criticism that in reality, zones do not just end, and the next one begins. Zones overflow, and the model is designed for highly developed cities such as Chicago, and not 3rd world cities that you might find in Ethiopia and Sudan. Therefore, the model is not universally correct. Hypothesis 1. Land use changes with increasing distance from the centre of Blaydon. This statement fits in with the Burgess model, as Burgess claimed that the land near the CBD will be densely populated and tightly fitted, whilst the land further out of town will have more room for things like gardens. Houses will be terraced near the town centre, and semi detatched on the outskirts. This statement fits in with Burgess' Bid Rent Model, as he claimed that land in the centre of the town was more useful and therefore expensive, so less people would be able to afford big gardens. This hypothesis should be true, because in reality most towns grow from the centre, and will therefore have many buildings squashed into a small section of land near the middle, but towards the countryside there is more free space Hypothesis 2. Housing age will become younger with increasing distance from the centre of Blaydon. This theory fits into the burgess model because the further you are from the city centre the younger the houses will be because the growth of cities are from the CBD so the houses on the outskirts will be the youngest. The CBD was built first in the beginning of the development of Blaydon. This means that houses will be built after the early developments. This process will continue until there is no land to build on. This theory means that houses will be younger as you progress further form the CBD. The hypothesis should be true because the Burgess model claims city growth occurred in the CBD first then grew outwards form there. Hypothesis 3 The quality of life will improve with increasing distance from the CBD of Blaydon. This theory also fits into the burgess model because as you get further away from the CBD the environment qualities should increase and also better housing materials will be available. Hypothesis 2 links with this hypothesis because as the houses become younger, they will become more modern and better building methods will be being used. Quality of life will increase due to the steady increase of size in houses as you progress further from the CBD. Bigger houses mean more money and better quality of life. For example, big gardens and garages accompanied with driveways. In my view this is a better quality of life compared to terraced houses with no gardens. This hypothesis should be true because the house age will decrease and quality of life will increase as you move further form the CBD. Also the environment won't be as bad because the roads and air will be less congested.