Synopses & Reviews
'Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood' explores the way that the UK’s towns and cities are changing at the turn of the millennium. Previously known as 'Building the 21st Century Home', the second edition of this successful text describes the way that environmental and demographic change, economic pressures and the needs of community could change urban areas forever just as the garden city movement did a century ago.
Some of the arguments that were so contentious ten years ago are now widely accepted. Others rumble on, particularly after another property crash that has hit urban apartments. The central point, however, remains; urban renaissance will not be achieved by coercion but by the creation of positive urban models. Through case studies, the book describes one such model, the Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood: mixed-use, mediumdensity urban development, designed to minimise resource use and maximise community.
This classic text will be essential reading for urban designers, architects and planners, and anyone involved in the development of new homes and the regeneration of towns and cities.
* Links social, environmental and economic factors with urban design for a fresh approach
* Grounded in practical realities of development. Visionary, whilst also putting theory into practice
* Provides a model for sustainable reform by showing how architects work with existing planning laws and environments to improve site plans
Review
'The Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood is the best analysis I have read of the crisis of the contemporary British city. This book offers a chance to rethink our priorities, break the cycle of decline and to create sustainable cities suitable for citizens.' Richard Rogers
Review
"In this excellent book, Yvonne Rydin skillfully critiques the current growth-dependent British planning system while offering a comprehensive and progressive agenda for its reform using the concept of ‘just sustainability."
Synopsis
Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood explores the trends and issues surrounding the rebuilding and reinvigoration of UK towns and cities. Previously known as Building the 21st Century Home, the second edition of this successful text describes what the sustainable urban neighbourhood looks like in reality and explores the practical concepts and theory behind the creation of such sustainable models.
The book covers outlines the necessary factors that professionals must consider when developing a neighbourhood. It covers practicalities such as water and sewage provision for housing, and planning of sites in relation to services such as schools and hospitals, as well as exploring the latest developments in the fast moving field of sustainable urban design.
This classic text will be essential reading for urban designers, architects and planners involved in the development of new homes and housing sites.
* Links social, environmental and economic factors with urban design for a fresh approach
* Grounded in practical realities of development. Visionary, whilst also putting theory into practice
* Provides a model for sustainable reform by showing how architects work with existing planning laws and environments to improve site plans
Synopsis
First published 1999 under the title: Building the 21st century home.
Synopsis
A trusted guide to developing sustainable housing sites.
Synopsis
This successful title, previously known as 'Building the 21st Century Home' and now in its second edition, explores and explains the trends and issues that underlie the renaissance of UK towns and cities and describes the sustainable urban neighbourhood as a model for rebuilding urban areas.The book reviews the way that planning policies, architectural trends and economic forces have undermined the viability of urban areas in Britain since the Industrial Revolution. Now that much post-war planning philosophy is being discredited we are left with few urban models other than garden city inspired suburbia. Are these appropriate in the 21st century given environmental concerns, demographic change, social and economic pressures? The authors suggest that these trends point to a very different urban future.The authors argue that we must reform our towns and cities so that they become attractive, humane places where people will choose to live. The Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood is a model for such reform and the book describes what this would look like and how it might be brought about.
Synopsis
For the past fifty years, urban planning has revolved around the presumed necessity of perpetual growth and development. Contending that the supposed benefits of endless growth cannot—and should not—be taken for granted, The Future of Planning comprises a timely exploration of alternative urban development models. Filled with practical suggestions that establish a new planning agenda, it proposes new ways to protect and enhance existing low-value land uses as well as the means of managing community assets within the built environment. This book will be essential reading for planning students, scholars, and practitioners.
About the Author
Yvonne Rydin is professor of planning, environment, and public policy at the Bartlett School of Planning at University College London.
Table of Contents
List of figures, tables and boxes
Preface
1 Introducing growth-dependant planning
Welcome to Anywheretown - the home of growth dependence!
Governance: the context for growth dependence
Alternative responses to growth dependence
The structure of the book
2 Embedding growth dependence in the planning system
Planners growing dependence on growth
The institutions of contemporary planning practice
3 The growth-dependant planning paradigm
The economic model underpinning growth-dependant planning
The direct and consequential benefits of promoting development
The side-benefits of promoting development
4 The flawed economic assumptions of growth-dependant planning
The core assumption of economic growth
Spatial patterns of economic growth
Coping with economic restructuring
Leveraging private sector development
5 The environmental and social consequences of growth-dependant planning
Growth-dependant planning as green growth
The implications of environmental sustainability
Growth-dependant planning as land value uplift
The implications for local communities
6 Reforming the planning agenda
From growth to well-being
Well-being, tackling inequalities and sustainability
Reframing planning for just sustainability
The need for reformed planning institutions
7 Alternative development models
Affordable housing
The Garden City model
Community development and land trusts
Self-build and plotlands
Finding low-value land
8 Protecting and improving existing places
Protecting existing land uses from development pressures
Improving housing standards
Town centre enhancement
Spaces for small and medium-sized enterprises
Vacant property and land
9 Assets in common
The limitations of private provision and management
Community ownership and management
Buying and funding community assets
Managing community assets
10 Reforming the planning system
The argument of the book
Reformed planning policy guidance
Reformed planning tools
Reformed community engagement
Bringing it all together
Notes
References
Index