Muhammad Muzammal : Muhammad Muzammal E-Mail: hello_hi99@hotmail.com
European New Towns : European New Towns Assessment and perspectives General Assembly 2009
Outline of the presentation : Outline of the presentation 1. New Towns study
2. New Towns facing challenges
3. Conclusions and possible recommandations
What do New Towns have in common? : What do New Towns have in common? - The same objectives (housing provision, alleviate congestion and link with capital cities)
- The same features (same urban patterns, questions of transport, low densities…)
- The same challenges (public services, long term vision, identity)
Creating New Towns across Europe : Creating New Towns across Europe Common features:
The dream of the « ideal city »
An interventionist government approach
Fast planning due to the explosion of urban development
Creating New Towns across Europe : Creating New Towns across Europe United Kingdom
Ebenezer Howard’s influence
Creation of 21 New Towns
Self contained settlements Harlow Basildon Milton Keynes
Creating New Towns across Europe : Creating New Towns across Europe France
1960s: 9 New Towns created
Inspired by British New Towns, but several differences Sénart Villeneuve d’Ascq Cergy-Pontoise
Creating New Towns across Europe : Creating New Towns across Europe The Netherlands
1970s: Growth centres’ policy
1990s: Vinex Plan
2009: Ortega plan Zoetermeer Capelle aan den IJssel Almere
Main differences British and French NT : Main differences British and French NT
Creating New Towns across Europe : Creating New Towns across Europe Nordic countries
No comprehensive national policies, but important role
Strong focus on the capitals Vantaa (FI) Hässelby-Vällingby
(SW) Ørestad (DK)
Creating New Towns across Europe : Creating New Towns across Europe Central and Eastern Europe
Creation in the communist era
Collapse of communism: serious economic problems Tatabanya (HU) Nitra (SV) Now Huta (PL)
Challenge 1 - Population : Challenge 1 - Population How it used to be…
High number of inhabitants in a short period of time
Attraction of the middle-class
Nuclear families and fairly young population
Challenge 1 - Population : Main stakes and issues:
Adapt to demographic stagnation/decline
Cope with changes in age, family structure, migrations and life styles
Attract higher income groups for more social diversity Challenge 1 - Population Different situations: still strong growth in Almere/Milton Keynes!
New Towns still on the growth? : New Towns still on the growth?
Case study: NT around Paris : Case study: NT around Paris
Study case: the Vinex plan : Study case: the Vinex plan
Study case : the Sustainable communities plan UK : Study case : the Sustainable communities plan UK
Social problems and deprived neighbourhoods : Social problems and deprived neighbourhoods
Challenge 2 - Public services : Challenge 2 - Public services Assessment:
Sharp contrast between Western and Eastern New Towns
Basic public services and amenities: still lagging behind (quantity and quality)
Increasing focus on entertainment BP: Hergé Museum in Louvain-la-Neuve (BE)
Health care facilities for ageing population? : Health care facilities for ageing population?
Challenge 2 - Public services : Challenge 2 - Public services Main problems encountered:
Money is scarce
Little time to develop solutions
Ageing infrastructures
Distance and transport
What about NT and education? : What about NT and education?
A new emphasis on leisure : A new emphasis on leisure
Shopping facilities : Shopping facilities
Challenge 3 - Housing : Challenge 3 - Housing The end of large scale housing?
Urban growth slowing down
Some New Towns reaching their limits… others still experience strong growth
Diversity paradoxes:
Question of large housing estates
Social problems and higher income groups BP to accommodate low income groups: Harlow foyer (UK)
Challenge 3 - Housing : Challenge 3 - Housing Urban regeneration needs:
Several problems: poor physical quality of housing, de-cohabitation/de-densification, social deprivation and isolation
How to regenerate? How to make sustainable improvements?
Demolition or refurbishement: the environmental challenge : Demolition or refurbishement: the environmental challenge
Challenge 4 –Economy : Challenge 4 –Economy Housing > economic activies, hence:
Limited local revenues
Question of labour skills
Challenge 4 - Economic development : Challenge 4 - Economic development Main challenges:
Attract more (innovative) businesses
Deal with the lack of jobs and employability
Overcome the ICT gap
Achieve balance between competitiveness and quality of life BP: Very high speed internet access in Saint-Quentin (FR)
Economic development : Economic development
Best practice: the advance city cluster : Best practice: the advance city cluster
Challenge 5 - Image and identity : Challenge 5 - Image and identity A fundamental problem:
From attraction to repulsion? The Cinderella challenge
No history no legacy?
« Dormitory towns » effect
Fostering communities
Challenge 5 - Image and identity : Challenge 5 - Image and identity Filling in the gap:
The need for branding strategies
The need for imaging and icons
From New Towns to Eco-towns?
Citizens’ participation
Best practices : Best practices
Citizens participation : Citizens participation
Conclusions : Conclusions New Towns are again in national agenda
Many challenges today…
Little money and big challenges
More receptive to the crisis (housing crisis, credit crunch, unemployement)
Environmental challenge
Lack of identity and community feeling
…but many initiatives as well:
Reinvention of the New Towns’ mindset on the way?
Possible recommendations : Possible recommendations 1. Promote New Towns’ national/regional roles
2. Define a long-term development vision
3. Tackle most urgent needs
4. Curb the dependence on a fragile economy
5. Match public services to local needs
6. Adapt the housing offer
7. Strengthen the image and attractiveness
Thank your for your attention! : Thank your for your attention! General Assembly 2009