Urban village
Decentralized urban development / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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In urban planning and design, an urban village is an urban development typically characterized by medium-density housing, mixed use zoning, good public transit and an emphasis on pedestrianization and public space.[1] Contemporary urban village ideas are closely related to New Urbanism and smart growth ideas initiated in the United States.[2]
Urban villages are seen to provide an alternative to recent patterns of urban development in many cities, especially decentralization and urban sprawl. They are generally purported to:
- Reduce car reliance and promote cycling, walking and transit use
- Provide a high level of self-containment (people working, recreating and living in the same area)
- Help facilitate strong community institutions and interaction
The concept of urban villages was formally born in Britain in the late 1980s with the establishment of the Urban Villages Group (UVG).[3] Following pressure from the UVG, the concept was prioritized in British national planning policy between 1997 and 1999.[4] Urban villages also come in the form of suburbs of metropolitan areas that are politically designated as villages.