ABSTRACT
Residential land constitutes a greater share of the developed area of cities than does any other single land-use type. Whereas housing comprises approximately 40% of urban land, the next two largest categories, open space and industry, only take up 20% and 10% respectively. Newly formed households consisting of a couple would be expected to increase in size as children are born, then to remain stable before decreasing in size as the children left home. Conversions can result in either a loss or a gain to the number of houses. Large houses may be converted to flats, or bed-sits converted to family houses. The distinction between need and demand, in particular, is an economic one and is an important factor in the tenure split in allocations of land for new housing. The availability of different types of housing tenure also influences demand.
