Abstract
The thesis is written in three main sections. The
first section describes and explains why a wider range
of land uses can justify a central location in medium
sized Scottish towns than in the larger centres studied
previously. The derivation of the land use based
delimitation technique used in the thesis is then
described.
The second section considers the historical growth of
the central area in relation to its changing function
and to factors attracting and constraining growth.
These factors are shown to be similar to those noted
in earlier studies.
The central area is seen to have had continuous growth
since 1882 with the growth prior to 1912 being mainly
for additional retail floor space and in the direction
of the main population expansion. Growth since, and
particularly in the post 1938 period, has been mainly
for additional office floor space, in the direction of
housing suitable for conversion to offices, and for
other central area uses, in the land behind and between
the main shopping streets.
In the third section the internal structure of the
central area is investigated in relation to such
geographic aspects as the location of and degree of
concentration around the Peak Land ¥alue Intersection,
the Central Area Mean Point and the mean points of
individual land uses. The relationship between land
use and land values is investigated through the county
assessor's frontage rates.
A clear spatial ordering of land use is identified
within the central area of medium sized Scottish towns
with most land uses locating in relation to their
ability to command the more accessible sites. The
main land use categories which do not follow this
pattern are offices, many of which do not require a
highly accessible site and are located more in relation
to the availability of suitable premises»
The spatial ordering of land use within the central
areas of medium sized Scottish towns is similar to that
noted by other research workers who have studied the
central business districts of generally larger centres
in industrialized countries. The main differences,
such as the relatively low intensity of use and the
lack of any increase in building height in the core of
the central area, are directly related to the lower
absolute demand for sites.
A brief fourth section compares the character of the
central areas of medium sized Scottish towns with that
of the central business districts of larger settlements
and also identifies some implications for planning
policies.
