The Central Business District A Basic Outline

1. The Central Business The Central Business
DistrictDistrict
(CBD)(CBD)

2. In pairs…. In pairs….
What do you think are the main What do you think are the main
functions of the CBD?functions of the CBD?

3. Main functions of the CBDMain functions of the CBD
1.1.Shops:Shops:
CBD at top of shopping hierarchy in a CBD at top of shopping hierarchy in a
city. city.
Has widest range of shops and the Has widest range of shops and the
largest department stores. largest department stores.
Shops mainly sell comparison goods and Shops mainly sell comparison goods and
high order goodshigh order goods
Draw customer from a wide sphere of Draw customer from a wide sphere of
influenceinfluence
Highest land costs in the centreHighest land costs in the centre

4. Bid rent theoryBid rent theory

5. Main functions of the CBDMain functions of the CBD
2. 2. Offices:Offices:
Banks, building societies, solicitors, Banks, building societies, solicitors,
insurance companies and government insurance companies and government
offices occupy high rise office blocks or the offices occupy high rise office blocks or the
upper floors above shops in the CBDupper floors above shops in the CBD

6. Main functions of the CBDMain functions of the CBD
3. Culture and entertainment:3. Culture and entertainment:
Theatres, cinemas (although now Theatres, cinemas (although now
increasingly out of town), clubs, bars and increasingly out of town), clubs, bars and
restaurantsrestaurants
Some cities have certain areas famous for Some cities have certain areas famous for
nightlife e.g. London’s West End and nightlife e.g. London’s West End and
Newcastle’s QuaysideNewcastle’s Quayside

7. TransportTransport
CBD is usually very accessible.CBD is usually very accessible.
The focus of roads The focus of roads
Usually train station and bus station Usually train station and bus station
nearbynearby
Largest urban areas have Largest urban areas have
underground systemsunderground systems
Trams are being reintroduced into Trams are being reintroduced into
some city centressome city centres

8. Diagram from
‘Understanding
GCSE Geog’

9. What do you think the What do you think the
problems are in the CBD?problems are in the CBD?

10. Problems and attempted solutions Problems and attempted solutions
in the CBDin the CBD
1.1.Traffic congestion:Traffic congestion:
In UK towns grew and In UK towns grew and
street patterns were street patterns were
established before established before
widespread car widespread car
ownershipownership
Roads are often narrowRoads are often narrow
Grid lockGrid lock
Attempted solutions Attempted solutions
include:include:
Ring roads and by-Ring roads and by-
passespasses
Urban motorways and Urban motorways and
flyoversflyovers
Public transport Public transport
schemes like ‘park and schemes like ‘park and
ride’ride’
Multi-storey car parksMulti-storey car parks
Pedestrianisation of Pedestrianisation of
high streetshigh streets
Congestion chargeCongestion charge

12. Problems and attempted solutions Problems and attempted solutions
in the CBDin the CBD
2. Pollution2. Pollution
Water, air land and noise Water, air land and noise
pollution are all common in CBDs.pollution are all common in CBDs.
Some illnesses such as asthma Some illnesses such as asthma
are exacerbated by urban livingare exacerbated by urban living
Attempted solutions include:Attempted solutions include:
Laws against the dumping of Laws against the dumping of
litter and sewage in riverslitter and sewage in rivers
Improved provision of litter Improved provision of litter
bins and road sweeping (inc a bins and road sweeping (inc a
relatively recent addition of relatively recent addition of
different types of bins to different types of bins to
encourage recycling)encourage recycling)
Clean Air ActsClean Air Acts
Vehicles whichVehicles which
will run on cleanerwill run on cleaner
fuelsfuels
Increased Increased
planting of trees planting of trees
and shrubsand shrubs

13. Problems and attempted solutions Problems and attempted solutions
in the CBDin the CBD
3. 3. Lack of space and Lack of space and
the high cost of the high cost of
landland
Small retailers Small retailers
have been forced have been forced
awayaway
‘‘Clone towns’ Clone towns’
Attempted solutions Attempted solutions
include:include:
High rise buildings High rise buildings
to increase floor to increase floor
spacespace
Out-of-town Out-of-town
shopping centresshopping centres

14. Problems and attempted solutions Problems and attempted solutions
in the CBDin the CBD
4. Urban decline:4. Urban decline:
As CBDs compete with out As CBDs compete with out
of town centres they of town centres they
experience decline, inc experience decline, inc
vacant properties, vacant properties,
vandalism etcvandalism etc
Growth of internet etc Growth of internet etc
means CBD may no longer means CBD may no longer
be the attractive location it be the attractive location it
once was, especially for once was, especially for
those such as offices who those such as offices who
do not need to attract do not need to attract
passing tradepassing trade
Attempted solutions include:Attempted solutions include:
Redevelopment of certain Redevelopment of certain
zones in CBD e.g. Covent zones in CBD e.g. Covent
Garden in LondonGarden in London
See whole section in a few lessons’ See whole section in a few lessons’
time on urban decline!time on urban decline!

15. From ‘Advanced geography through diagrams’