Quantifying rates of urban creep in Scotland
Various studies have shown that land cover in urban areas tends to become more impermeable (e.g. front gardens are paved over) over time; this is often referred to as urban creep. Urban creep is likely to be a significant factor in surface water flood risk in the future. In order to manage flood risk sustainably now and in the future, we need to be able to quantify the rates of urban creep. Various studies have been carried out in the UK in relation to observed rates of urban creep, although few of these were undertaken in Scotland.