Changes at the edges of HIC cities

The areas where the green fields and open spaces of the countryside meet the built-up spaces of the towns and cities is known as either rural-urban fringe or the urban fringe. More countryside is being lost by the outward growth of towns and cities, practically their suburbs. The greenfield sites of the open land around the edge of a city are in great demand for housing, industrial shopping, recreation and needs of the public utilities such as reservoirs and sewerage works.   


One reason for urban growth and change in the rural urban fringe is a feeling of dissatisfaction with the city.

• Housing is old, congested and relatively expensive 
• There are various forms of environment pollution- air quality is poor, and noise levels are high
•  Companies find that there is a shortage of land for building new shops, offices and factories. As a consequence, what unused land is is costly

These are all PUSH factors. There are also PULL factors on the urban fringe.

• Land is cheaper so houses are larger
• Factories can be more spacious and have plenty of room for workers to park their cars.
• Closeness to the main roads and motorways allows for quicker and easier customer contacts 
• New developments on the outskirts are favoured by the personal mobility allowed by the car

What else happens in the urban fringe? Significant non-residential developments



Retail Parks
In HICs there has been a great increase in out-of-town retailing with late purpose built superstores and shopping centres located at it just beyond the urban fringe. Number of superstores has increased dramatically in the UK. Why? More people own cars, car parks are free, easy access shopping centres, stuff for family's to do, bowling alleys and cinemas
Often due to good main roads.

Industrial estates

Areas of modern light and service industries with planned layout and purpose-built road networks

Business Parks

Areas created by property developers in order to attract firms needing office accommodation. Often include leisure activities such as bowling alleys, ice rinks and cinemas.

Science Parks

Usually located close to universities or research centres with aim of encouraging an developing high-

tech industries and quaternary