Conurbation
![]() |
The West Midlands Built-Up Area as at the 2011 Census, with overlay of the 2007 Travel to Work Areas. Cities are highlighted in orange, and towns with local authority districts named after them highlighted in green. Source. |
The term ‘conurbation’ refers to: 'A region comprising a number of cities, large towns and other urban areas that, through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban and industrially developed area.' Ref The HS2 London-West Midlands Environmental Statement, published by the Department for Transport in November 2013.
Spatial development glossary, European Conference of Ministers responsible for Spatial/Regional Planning (CEMAT), Territory and landscape, No. 2, published by Council of Europe Publishing in 2007, states: ‘A conurbation is an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities which have physically merged through population growth and expansion. It is a polycentric form of agglomeration. Physical proximity and continuity of built-up areas are a prerequisite for the definition of a conurbation, which does not exclude that interstitial open spaces may also exist. Conurbations generally developed during the industrial revolution when settlements were built up in areas with significant raw materials (especially mines) or along coastal strips (between the shore line and the mountains in the hinterland).’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
BIM for structural reinforcement modelling
From the basics to the future from our Cohesive BIM wiki.
ECA skills recharge at the House of Commons
As electrical sector feels skills shortage bite.
The impact of pandemic and new legislation on courses
CIOB Academy’s course take-up inked to external factors.
An artist, philanthropist and ex-Army helicopter pilot
Q and A with self-representing artist, Hannah Shergold.
Building Safety Regulator appoints permanent director
And publishes three-year strategic plan.
Update on the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)
Introducing changes to make it more effective from 2024.
2023 CIOB photography competition
Shortlist announced for 2023 public choice award vote.
The last of the Victorians. Book review.
Grimsby's Kasbah: where’s that?
An exotic name that is shrouded in mystery.
This weeks guest editor, Ankita Dwivedi of Firstplanit.
Fropm practice to research and the business of materials.
Terms, histories, theories and practices.
Types of work to existing buildings - repurposing of buildings
Alteration and everything else before demolition.
2023 HSE data on workplace injuries and ill health
And CIOB's response.
Building Safety Act and Secondary Legislation
Presidential update from CIAT's Eddie Weir PCIAT.