Periurban

Periurban is a term used in urban geography and planning to describe zones on the edge of urban areas where urban and rural land uses intersect and interact. Periurban areas are characterized by a mix of housing, commerce, agriculture, and open space and are subject to rapid change as cities expand.

They are transitional spaces between urban core and rural hinterland; often experience rapid population growth, land conversion, and land use fragmentation. They may retain small-scale farming and informal economies while becoming sites for housing booms, industrial parks, or infrastructure projects.

Drivers of periurban change include suburbanization, rising land values, transportation improvements, and policy incentives. Consequences can include loss of agricultural land, environmental pressures, changes to local hydrology, and shifts in social dynamics such as income diversity, commuting patterns, and unequal access to services.

Governance in periurban areas is often complex, with overlapping planning regimes and fragmented service provision. Infrastructure may lag behind development, increasing the risk of sprawl if not well managed. Effective periurban planning seeks to balance growth with the protection of agricultural and ecological assets and typically involves multiple authorities, along with tools such as zoning, urban growth boundaries, green belts, and green infrastructure.

Impacts can include housing affordability pressures, increased traffic, greater demand for water and drainage, and vulnerability to climate risks. Periurban areas can also offer ecological and ecosystem benefits and opportunities for urban agriculture when growth is guided by integrated planning.

Global patterns show periurban zones around many rapidly growing cities in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and parts of Europe, with policy responses emphasizing urban-rural linkages and coordinated regional planning.