Bid rent- Given total space available in the city, the central sites are relatively few, so competition for them will be intense, and prices higher. The most central sites will be the most attractive.
In our class discussion concerning or field trip in the Belfast C.B.D we chose six functions of concern to us. This would give us a mixture of Orders to allow us to compare and contrast.
*Department stores, building societies/banks- typical high order functions of C.B.D.
*Sport shops/electrical shops- typical middle order functions of C.B.D.
*Newsagents/cafes- typical low order functions of C.B.D.
>We used a map scale of 1:1250, which enabled us to show individual buildings. We used these maps in the ‘field’ and we marked the six functions on the twelve maps which covered the whole of the C.B.D, in the suitable position. We then used reduced photocopies for our presentation of results. A separate map was used for each of the six functions.
Our field and area of study was the Belfast Central Business District, the boundary streets starting at the gates of R.B.A.I and going right;
*College Square East.
*Amelia street.
*Franklin street.
*Victoria street.
*High street.
*Castle place.
*Donegall place.
*Wellington place.
During our class discussion we made it clear to leave out the following areas;
Zone of discard; this is an area formerly regarded as an important part of the C.B.D but now partly derelict. It would include Upper North Street, Lower North Street, Donegall street, Waring Street and Garfield Street. These areas are rarely visited since they have little to offer in terms of shops. There are ambitious plans to regenerate this area and name it Cathedral Square. There are no plans to regenerate Victoria Square.
Zone of Assimilation; this is an area that was not really a part of the C.B.D but is now. It includes Great Victoria Street, Dublin Road, Shaftsbury Square, Bradbury Place and Ormeau Avenue. Many old buildings were renovated and turned into bars and restaurants (The Golden Mile). The Europa was built, the Great Victoria Street station, a cinema complex and new hotel (opposite the BBC).
Zone of Regeneration; this was part of the C.B.D which had fallen into decay but is now thriving again. It includes Royal Avenue (Primark to Castlecourt) and High Street including Donegall Arcade and the In Shops. It is mostly an area of shops and small restaurants).
Data presentation.
On our final six maps for each of the six chosen functions we will mark the centre of gravity. This method used is very simple and it means measuring the distance of the dots (representing each function on the map) from the bottom boundary of the page (representing the boundary of the C.B.D). The distances will be put in a column next to the distances of the same dots from the left boundary of the C.B.D. An average will be found giving two numbers, which will then represent the position of the centre of gravity. (All maps and measurements are to scale). The centre of gravity gives us the position of the ‘optimum location’ in the C.B.D.
Again on our final six maps we intend to use ‘Nearest Neighbour’ index which is a more complicated method, which gives us a numerical indication of cluster, random, and uniform. Figures lie between 0 and 2-15;
0=entirely clustered.
1=random.
2=uniform.