The Role of Land Use Change in Developing City Spatial Models in Jordan: The Case of the Irbid Master Plan (1970–2017)

Irbid city witnessed a rapid population growth starting from 2003 up to now, which affected the expansion of the city form. This led to awareness of an urgent need to evaluate the current urban planning practices which have been implemented and how responsive they are to land use changes. This paper investigates the role of land use change in determining the spatial model of urban growth in Irbid. The study outlines the development of planning stages from 1970 to 2017. It also explores the temporal and spatial characteristics of urban expansion by analyzing Irbid city maps at different time intervals. Quantitative methods are used by employing GIS. The literature presents the impact of developing land uses on the expansion of the city borders, and identifies the spatial patterns of urban growth. The study concludes with a spatial model of the city comprising structural plans and practical recommendations for Irbid urban development for a better understanding of the city expansion pattern. It also predicts the way of city urban development, thereby identifying its influence on land use changes. This model is, therefore, valuable for informing policy or responding to current planning practices in Irbid and other similar cities nearly considered irregular pattern.