Urban and Rural Affairs

The Present

We have reached a point in our country's development when the sprawl of our urban areas threatens the relative tranquility of our rural countryside. The prospect of 4.4 million new houses somewhere, but in particular in the SE, is viewed with great alarm. We know that wherever we live we need both urban facilities and rural space and the challenge is to find the right balance.

For a long time too many people have been content to migrate from the spoilt centres of our cities and perch on the urban fringe where the clean greenness of the countryside is close by. Affluent households map like doughnut rings around each city across the country. Around the ring are good middle class schools, pleasant shopping, employment, and an acceptable environment. Inside the ring, in too many inner city areas, we have older housing, poorer families, unemployment, gritty air, and so on. The inner cities are places to escape from totally, or at least at the end of the working day.

The Future

We have a vision. That is to re-create our inner cities to be places of marvellous architecture, art, entertainment, and excitement, with clean air, parks and quiet squares. Indeed, if this country is to have some kind of tangible objective, it ought to be to transform our city centres over the next generation, to rival the best in Europe, and be wonderful places to live.

If we do this we reduce the pressure to build 5 bedroom executive homes in green belt. We can keep our green belt, and protect our rural areas. Moreover we create large numbers of construction jobs particularly suitable for young males. We have the architectural and engineering know how. All we need is the political will.

Environment and Design

The key is the environment. First, the air has to be clean. This is why we are so keen (as stated in our submission on Transport, to extend pedestrianization, give priority to environmentally friendly forms of transport, and where motor vehicles have to be used, to restrict them to those with clean fuels or very low emissions.

Second the city must be beautiful. If we are to create space for parks and squares, we have to build in 5 or 6 storey apartments. High density accommodation makes public transport much easier to provide, and because much of the need for the 4.4 m houses is generated by the growth in single person households, it is particularly appropriate.

And, instead of designing buildings individually we need to build them in one homogeneous style as has been done in the best parts of London and other great European cities. It is possible. Many cities are re-building their centres now, though sometimes it seems with an indecisive mixture of flair (for example around canal redevelopment) and muddle. There is a need for clarity, for architectural competitions, for vision. We need a mix of jobs and a mix of accommodation.

Funding

Funding should not be a problem. Redevelopment will raise rents and property values, and, if the private sector is confident that the community is committed to a clear, long term plan, it should be interested enough to find the bulk of the money.

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