A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
How effective are greenbelts at mitigating urban sprawl? A comparative study of 60 European cities
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8331-6099
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3852-848X
Graphical abstract Display Omitted
Highlights This study compares urban sprawl between cities with and without greenbelts. Greenbelts have been largely effective at reducing urban sprawl. The effect was somewhat stronger in cities of larger population sizes. The main mechanism was a reduction of land uptake per person, i.e., densification. We recommend greenbelts for de-sprawling strategies toward more compact green cities.
Abstract As Europe takes continuous steps towards urbanization, many cities in this continent are affected by the negative repercussions caused by urban sprawl. Among the efforts adopted to overcome urban sprawl and its adverse impacts is the greenbelt policy which is highly popular in several European countries. However, the actual effectiveness of this urban growth management strategy has been disputed. Using a sample of 60 European cities, 30 of which have greenbelts, this study compares (1) changes in urban sprawl in a 9-year time period (2006–2015), and (2) the level of sprawl between the cities with and without greenbelt in 2006 and 2015 separately, to investigate the performance of the greenbelts, applying the metrics of Weighted Urban Proliferation (WUP) and Weighted Sprawl per Capita (WSPC). The results show that (1) greenbelts have been largely effective at slowing down urban sprawl; and in most cases, they have helped reduce sprawl; (2) while urban sprawl decreased also in some cities without greenbelt, the average relative decrease in sprawl was much stronger in cities with greenbelts; (3) greenbelts were somewhat more beneficial in limiting urban sprawl in cities with larger population sizes; (4) the effectiveness of greenbelts was mainly due to the reduction of land uptake per person, i.e., through densification of the built-up areas. These findings are useful to inform future de-sprawling strategies in urban and regional planning as well as the formulation of new scenarios and of targets and limits to urban sprawl in support of more sustainable forms of urban development.
How effective are greenbelts at mitigating urban sprawl? A comparative study of 60 European cities
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8331-6099
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3852-848X
Graphical abstract Display Omitted
Highlights This study compares urban sprawl between cities with and without greenbelts. Greenbelts have been largely effective at reducing urban sprawl. The effect was somewhat stronger in cities of larger population sizes. The main mechanism was a reduction of land uptake per person, i.e., densification. We recommend greenbelts for de-sprawling strategies toward more compact green cities.
Abstract As Europe takes continuous steps towards urbanization, many cities in this continent are affected by the negative repercussions caused by urban sprawl. Among the efforts adopted to overcome urban sprawl and its adverse impacts is the greenbelt policy which is highly popular in several European countries. However, the actual effectiveness of this urban growth management strategy has been disputed. Using a sample of 60 European cities, 30 of which have greenbelts, this study compares (1) changes in urban sprawl in a 9-year time period (2006–2015), and (2) the level of sprawl between the cities with and without greenbelt in 2006 and 2015 separately, to investigate the performance of the greenbelts, applying the metrics of Weighted Urban Proliferation (WUP) and Weighted Sprawl per Capita (WSPC). The results show that (1) greenbelts have been largely effective at slowing down urban sprawl; and in most cases, they have helped reduce sprawl; (2) while urban sprawl decreased also in some cities without greenbelt, the average relative decrease in sprawl was much stronger in cities with greenbelts; (3) greenbelts were somewhat more beneficial in limiting urban sprawl in cities with larger population sizes; (4) the effectiveness of greenbelts was mainly due to the reduction of land uptake per person, i.e., through densification of the built-up areas. These findings are useful to inform future de-sprawling strategies in urban and regional planning as well as the formulation of new scenarios and of targets and limits to urban sprawl in support of more sustainable forms of urban development.
How effective are greenbelts at mitigating urban sprawl? A comparative study of 60 European cities
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8331-6099
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3852-848X
Graphical abstract Display Omitted
Highlights This study compares urban sprawl between cities with and without greenbelts. Greenbelts have been largely effective at reducing urban sprawl. The effect was somewhat stronger in cities of larger population sizes. The main mechanism was a reduction of land uptake per person, i.e., densification. We recommend greenbelts for de-sprawling strategies toward more compact green cities.
Abstract As Europe takes continuous steps towards urbanization, many cities in this continent are affected by the negative repercussions caused by urban sprawl. Among the efforts adopted to overcome urban sprawl and its adverse impacts is the greenbelt policy which is highly popular in several European countries. However, the actual effectiveness of this urban growth management strategy has been disputed. Using a sample of 60 European cities, 30 of which have greenbelts, this study compares (1) changes in urban sprawl in a 9-year time period (2006–2015), and (2) the level of sprawl between the cities with and without greenbelt in 2006 and 2015 separately, to investigate the performance of the greenbelts, applying the metrics of Weighted Urban Proliferation (WUP) and Weighted Sprawl per Capita (WSPC). The results show that (1) greenbelts have been largely effective at slowing down urban sprawl; and in most cases, they have helped reduce sprawl; (2) while urban sprawl decreased also in some cities without greenbelt, the average relative decrease in sprawl was much stronger in cities with greenbelts; (3) greenbelts were somewhat more beneficial in limiting urban sprawl in cities with larger population sizes; (4) the effectiveness of greenbelts was mainly due to the reduction of land uptake per person, i.e., through densification of the built-up areas. These findings are useful to inform future de-sprawling strategies in urban and regional planning as well as the formulation of new scenarios and of targets and limits to urban sprawl in support of more sustainable forms of urban development.
How effective are greenbelts at mitigating urban sprawl? A comparative study of 60 European cities
Pourtaherian, Parnian (author) / Jaeger, Jochen A.G. (author)
2022-07-28
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Built-up areas , Dispersion , Europe , Land uptake , Monitoring , Urban development , Urban growth , Urban growth management strategies , Utilization density , Weighted Urban Proliferation (<italic>WUP</italic>) , Weighted Sprawl per Capita (<italic>WSPC</italic>) , <italic>DIS</italic> , Dispersion of built-up areas , <italic>HP</italic> , Horizon of perception , <italic>LUP</italic> , Land uptake per person , <italic>PBA</italic> , Percentage of built-up areas , UPU / (inh. or job) , Urban permeation units per inhabitant or job , UPU / m<sup>2</sup> , Urban permeation units per square meter , <italic>WSPC</italic> , Weighted sprawl per capita , <italic>WUP</italic> , Weighted urban proliferation
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