ANNUAL CONGRESS 2025

Rethinking Urban Sprawl in the Context of Shrinking Cities: A Critical Review of Shrinkage Sprawl and Its Spatial Implications

Not scheduled

20m

Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul

Oral Track 01 | POSTGROWTH URBANISM

Speaker

Başak Aycan Özkan

Description

Urban sprawl has long been a debated phenomenon within the context of growing cities and regions. The indicators, causes, and consequences of urban sprawl, as well as the policies developed to address sprawl development, have predominantly been discussed in the framework of growing urban areas (Couch et al., 2005). On the other hand, studies on the increasingly prominent topic of shrinking cities since the 2000s reveal that urban sprawl and urban shrinkage emerge as parallel phenomena. Research has shown that cities experiencing demographic and (mostly) economic decline do not spatially shrink; instead, they expand (Reis et al., 2016). While the juxtaposition of the terms shrinkage and sprawl may seem paradoxical, shrinking cities continue to consume land inefficiently. It is evident that the concept of shrinking cities will not mark the end of urban sprawl. Just as shrinking cities are projected to be the future of many regions worldwide, urban sprawl seems to remain a form of growth for many shrinking cities.
In the examination of the phenomenon of ‘shrinkage sprawl’ (Siedentop and Fina, 2010), it has been observed that studies on sprawl in growing cities and research on shrinkage after the 2000s have been integrated. Sprawl development in growing cities is measured using variegated indicators of physical forms and patterns of land use. Many studies emphasize that relying on a single indicator to identify sprawl areas is insufficient. On the other hand, case studies on shrinkage sprawl have predominantly focused on changes in density in identifying sprawl development, which causes limitations in exploring morphological characteristics.
Shrinking cities are identified through population loss and demographic changes, such as aging and declining birth rates. Spatial indicators are not used in the designation of shrinking cities. The literature review shows that spatial analyses related to shrinkage sprawl remain significantly narrow. Even though theoretical research highlights the uniqueness of spatial characteristics of shrinkage across varying spatial contexts and periods, this observation has not been adequately reflected in shrinkage sprawl studies. This limitation might stem from the fact that while changes in the physical form of sprawl areas are visible, shrinkage does not leave a visible footprint on land. The most prominent spatial characteristics of shrinkage, such as increasing vacancy rates and perforation, are not observable in space unless demolition is actively undertaken by authorities. So, in the identification of urban sprawl in shrinking cities, the spatial dimension of shrinkage sprawl needs to be examined more extensively.
It is essential to investigate whether shrinkage sprawl exhibits physical forms that are similar or different from those observed in growing sprawl. The concept of shrinkage sprawl should be studied across diverse geographies, local conditions, and scales. By doing so, a complex conceptualization of shrinkage sprawl can be developed—one that is both globally relevant and locally adaptable. Developing a model for shrinkage sprawl would contribute to identifying sprawl in shrinking cities.
The inefficient use of limited land in shrinking settlements necessitates developing planning policies. Policies developed for sprawl in growing cities cannot simply be transferred to shrinking cities. It is essential to reconsider the current planning paradigm and its instruments. This requires a reevaluation of the shrinkage sprawl concept, ensuring its spatial dimensions are accurately identified.
This study critically examines research on shrinkage sprawl while supporting the development of new approaches on this subject. Based on the findings from the literature review, this study answers the following questions: Through which concepts and theoretical frameworks are shrinking and sprawling cities discussed? What types of data and indicators are used to identify those cities? How are socio-economic and spatial policies developed to address the challenges faced by shrinking cities?

References

Couch, C., Karecha, J., Nuissl, H. and Rink, D. (2005). Decline and sprawl: an evolving type of urban development – observed in Liverpool and Leipzig. European Planning Studies, 13(1), pp.117–136.
Reis, J.P., Silva, E.A. and Pinho, P. (2015). Spatial metrics to study urban patterns in growing and shrinking cities. Urban Geography, 37(2), pp.246–271.
Siedentop, S. and Fina, S. (2010). Urban Sprawl beyond Growth: the Effect of Demographic Change on Infrastructure Costs. Flux 1, 79-80(1), p.90.