The location and growth of an settlement depended upon its site and situation.
The site was the actual place where people decided to locate their
settlement. Thegrowth of that settlement then depended upon its situation
in relation to accessibility and availability of natural resources.
reliable water supply
away from flood risks
building materials (stone or wood)
shelterered from winds
fuel supply (wood)
south-facing slope (aspect)
flat land, easy to build on
lowest bridging point on a river
minerals for export
Nucleated or clustered settlements often form at
crossroads or route centres.
Dispersed settlements have no obvious centre and
are often hamlets spread over fertile farmland.
Linear settlements: settlements grow along a
road (e.g. in a narrow valley) or along the coast. Ribbon development is when
housing grows out from a town along a main road.