Urban issues and challenges key terms

Brownfield site

Land that has been used, abandoned and now awaits a new use. Commonly found around urban areas, particularly in the inner cities

Dereliction

Abandoned buildings and wasteland

Economic opportunities

Chances for people to improve their standard of living through employment

Greenfield site

A plot of land, often in rural or on the edge of an urban area, that has not yet been subject to any building development

Inequalities

Differences between poverty and wealth. Inequalities may occur in housing, access to services and safety and security

Integrated transport systems

When different methods of transport systems join together, which makes journeys smoother and public transport is more appealing. May lead to a fall in congestion due to less road users

Mega cities

A city with a population over 10 million people

Migration

When people move from one place to another with the intention of settling there

Natural increase

The birth rate minus the death rate

Pollution

The presence of chemicals, noise, dirt or other substances which have harmful effects on the environment

Sanitation

Measures designed to protect public health with the provision of clean water and disposal of sewage and waste

Social deprivation

When an individual or area is unable to access services, decent housing, adequate income or local employment

Social opportunities

Chances for people to improve their quality of life such as access to education and healthcare

Squatter settlement

An area of low quality housing, at times lacking amenities such as water supply, sewage and electricity, which often happens on the land not owned by the occupants

Urbanisation

The process of which an increasing percentage of a country’s population lives in towns and cities

Urban area

A built up area with a high dense population