Peri-Urbanisation : the Situation in Europe
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Peri-urbanisation : the situation in Europe A bibliographical note and survey of studies in the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and the Nordic countries Geoffrey Caruso Report prepared for the DATAR, Délégation à l'Aménagement du Territoire et à l'Action Régionale, Ministère de l'Aménagement du Territoire et de l'Environnement, France Peri-urbanisation : the situation in Europe A bibliographical note and survey of studies in the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and the Nordic countries Report prepared for the Délégation à l'Aménagement du Territoire et à l'Action Régionale (DATAR), Ministère de l'Aménagement du Territoire et de l'Environnement, France Geoffrey Caruso (1) [email protected] with contributions from Cavailhès J. (2), [email protected], Peeters D. (1), [email protected] Rounsevell M. (1), [email protected] Thomas I. (1), [email protected] (1) Département de Géographie Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) Louvain-la-Neuve Belgium http://www.geo.ucl.ac.be (2) Département d'Economie et Sociologie Rurale Institut National de Recherche Agronomique (INRA) Dijon France FINAL REPORT December 2001 ABSTRACT In this report the extent of "peri-urbanisation" in Europe is analysed. The aim is to give an insight into the ways in which "peri-urban" processes are described in different European countries. The work has been undertaken for DATAR (Délégation à l'Aménagement du Territoire et à l'Action Régionale, France) as part of their ongoing study of "peri-urbanisation" in France. Urban development is one of the major concerns for the future of rural areas and ecological zones. This work contributes to the "peri-urban" debate by taking a European perspective that complements local or national case studies. The focus is on the spatial aspects of peri-urbanisation and on its recent demographic trends. The report is divided into three parts : The first part consists of a general discussion about the diversity of concepts used to analyse peri-urban processes, and provides an overview of urbanisation typologies and global trends in the EU. In the second the spatial extent and the description of peri- urban processes is discussed for different countries: The Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany and Italy. Some bibliographical references are also given for the Nordic countries. The third part summarises the main spatial and demographic trends and identifies some of the similarities and differences between the countries considered. A bibliography is provided at the end of the report and includes references on some additional countries. It is shown how diverse can be the tools used to assess peri-urbanisation. Nevertheless, there is a clear diffusion of population towards commuting and rural areas of Europe. A growing share of national territories and population are concerned with this process. Changes in the urban-rural interface are driven by similar behaviour throughout Europe, but slight differences can be observed. Local geographic and demographic specificities, regional economic dynamism, historic settlements as well as spatial policies differentiate the evolution and morphology of European peri-urban areas today. Abstract CONTENTS ABSTRACT FOREWORD ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................................................................1 Objectives......................................................................................................................................................................................1 Methodology................................................................................................................................................................................2 Hypotheses....................................................................................................................................................................................4 Structure of the study.................................................................................................................................................................5 I. CONCEPTS AND EUROPEAN OVERVIEW...................................................................................................................................6 I.1. Peri-urbanisation concepts.........................................................................................................................................6 I.1.1. The French framework........................................................................................................................................6 I.1.2. A conceptual framework....................................................................................................................................9 I.1.3. More on the diversity of concepts...............................................................................................................10 I.2. Overview of the situation at the European scale................................................................................................13 References ( part I) ...................................................................................................................................................................21 II. ANALYSIS BY COUNTRY..............................................................................................................................................................24 Case studies choice..................................................................................................................................................................24 Structure of the analysis.........................................................................................................................................................24 II.1. The Netherlands...........................................................................................................................................................26 II.1.1. Context and spatial definitions...................................................................................................................26 II.1.2. Spatial evolution and demographic trends...............................................................................................35 II.1.3. Bibliography.....................................................................................................................................................40 II.2. Belgium.........................................................................................................................................................................44 II.2.1. Context and spatial definitions...................................................................................................................44 Contents II.2.2. Spatial evolution and demographic trends...............................................................................................50 II.2.3. Bibliography.....................................................................................................................................................55 II.3. Great Britain.................................................................................................................................................................59 II.3.1. Context and spatial definitions...................................................................................................................59 II.3.2. Spatial evolution and demographic trends...............................................................................................62 II.3.3. Bibliography.....................................................................................................................................................66 II.4. Germany.........................................................................................................................................................................68 II.4.1. Context and spatial definitions...................................................................................................................68 II.4.2. Spatial evolution and demographic trends...............................................................................................72 II.4.3. Bibliography.....................................................................................................................................................79 II.5. Italy ...............................................................................................................................................................................82 II.5.1. Context and spatial definitions...................................................................................................................82 II.5.2. Spatial evolution and demographic trends...............................................................................................88 II.5.3. Bibliography.....................................................................................................................................................98 II.6. A bibliographical note for the Nordic countries..............................................................................................102 II.6.1. Bibliography...................................................................................................................................................102 II.6.2. A selection