Geography coursework- colchester town

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Sam Hennessy 10 E Geography Coursework

Introduction

My main objectives of this enquiry are to look at these features of Urban Geography:

  1. To look at the different types of social and economic characteristics within the six areas we visited in Colchester. Some of these differences are related to physical characteristics as well.
  2. To study the differences between the land use in the CBD and the outlying retail or commercial centre (Tollgate) and to observe the clustering of shops in CBD and the outer retail centre.
  3. To see what changes have taken place in the type and location of shops and services in the Tollgate Retail Park and to find out why these changes have taken place.
  4. To see if our transect is similar to the theoretical land use models, Burgess, Hoyt and Mann.

My Study Area

Theoretical Cross section of an MEDC

My study area is a transect from the Town Hall in the High Street                    (Central Business District), along Lexden Road and ends at the Tollgate Retail Park. We visited location 10, 8, 5, 3, 2, 1, A and E.

Theory

There are three main theoretical land use models.    

Burgess

                                Hoyt

Mann

    Burgess

  • The Central Business District (CBD) is in the middle of the town, this is the main area where entertainment, administration and commerce are located.
  • The Transition Zone (Inner City) is a mixture of industry and other private houses, many of these have changed into offices and warehouses, or are divided into flats.
  • Working-class housing (Inner Suburbs) is close to the city so people can get to their jobs but not too close because otherwise they wouldn’t be able to afford the house prices.
  • Middle-class housing and High Status residential zones are located in the Outer Suburbs. The Middle class housing are owned by wealthier people who can afford more space and also can afford to travel slightly longer to work.
  • The Commuter Zone is the bit outside the city where wealthy people live and can travel to work. They often live in the outlying rural areas and villages.

   Hoyt

This land use model has sector like wedges which are influenced by two factors;

  • Physical factors: some industries follow valley floors or have mountain near by them which would impede them being a Burgess Model town.
  • Communication Factors: industries would erect beside railway lines, rivers and main roads to transport goods and to catch the passing traffic.

Mann

The Mann model consists of sector like wedges and is also based around a middle (CBD).

Fieldwork

  1. I carried out a detailed land use survey of the Tollgate Retail Park and the High Street. This survey I record will allow me to compare the different types of shops and services in the two study areas.
  2. I carried out a shopping street survey in my shop and services location so I can compare the different shopping environments
  3. I looked at the physical characteristics of the six housing areas I studied and also carried out four separate surveys.
  4. I looked at the socio-economic characteristics of the residents in the six housing areas I studied. ( type of tenure

Expected Outcomes

From my general knowledge of Colchester I expect there to be a grouping of Estate Agents by the Odeon. Also I would expect there to be a high number of chain stores and comparison shops in the High street but as we go further away from the High street the lower order shops (convenience stores) will crowd together because they can’t afford the High Prices of the land on the High Street.

In the Tollgate Retail Park I will expect to find a high percentage of high order, comparison/specialist superstores. I expect to find that High order stores that have a specialist product (carpets, computers, electrical goods) to cluster so that the customers can compare the styles and prices. I also expect to find that the Tollgate Retail Park is expanding into the countryside.

When I study the six housing areas I expect to find that the age and house type will change as you get further away from the centre. The housing near the centre will be terraced 19th century and as you go further away from centre the housing will change to inter-war housing. Nearer the edge of the town the houses will become newer. I also expect that the type of resident will differ in these different housing areas.

I shall also see which one of my theoretical models (Burgess, Hoyt and Mann) is most associated with my Colchester Transect.

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Comparing Locations and Categories, Shops

Land Use Compared

Shopping Quality and Street Appearance

The Higher the Number the better it is.

Comparing Locations and Categories, Residential Information

Index Of Decay

The Higher the Number the better it is.

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