Ribbon development
Encyclopedia
Ribbon development means building houses along the routes of communications radiating from a human settlement. Such development generated great concern in the United Kingdom
during the 1920s and the 1930s, as well as in numerous other countries.
Increasing motor car ownership meant that houses could be sold even if remote from shops and other services. It was attractive to developers because they did not have to waste money or plot space constructing roads.
The practice became seen as inefficient use of resources and a precursor to urban sprawl
, meaning that a key aim for the United Kingdom's post-War planning system
was to halt ribbon development. It led to the introduction of green belt
policies.
, ribbon development became prevalent along railway lines: predominantly in Russia
, the United Kingdom
, and the United States
. A good example of this was the deliberate promotion of Metroland along London's Metropolitan Railway
. Similar evidence can be found from Long Island
(where Frederick W Dunton bought much real estate to encourage New York
ers to settle along the Long Island Railroad lines), Boston
and across the American mid-west.
Such expansion of human settlement is now seen as positively helpful in the fight against environmental destruction caused by building along roads .
It can also occur along ridge lines, canal
s and coastlines, the latter especially occurring as people seeking seachange lifestyles build their houses where they can get the best view.
The resulting towns and cities are often difficult to service efficiently. Often, the first problems noticed by residents is traffic congestion
as people compete to move along the narrow urban corridor while ever more people join the ribbon further along the corridor. Urban consolidation
is often a solution to encourage growth towards a more compact urban form.
Ribbon development can also be compared with a linear village
which is a village that grew along a transportation route, not as part of a city's expansion.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during the 1920s and the 1930s, as well as in numerous other countries.
Increasing motor car ownership meant that houses could be sold even if remote from shops and other services. It was attractive to developers because they did not have to waste money or plot space constructing roads.
The practice became seen as inefficient use of resources and a precursor to urban sprawl
Urban sprawl
Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
, meaning that a key aim for the United Kingdom's post-War planning system
Town and country planning in the United Kingdom
Town and Country Planning is the land use planning system governments use to balance economic development and environmental quality. Each country of the United Kingdom has its own planning system that is responsible for town and country planning devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the...
was to halt ribbon development. It led to the introduction of green belt
Green belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
policies.
History
Following the Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, ribbon development became prevalent along railway lines: predominantly in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A good example of this was the deliberate promotion of Metroland along London's Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
. Similar evidence can be found from Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
(where Frederick W Dunton bought much real estate to encourage New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
ers to settle along the Long Island Railroad lines), Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and across the American mid-west.
Such expansion of human settlement is now seen as positively helpful in the fight against environmental destruction caused by building along roads .
It can also occur along ridge lines, canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
s and coastlines, the latter especially occurring as people seeking seachange lifestyles build their houses where they can get the best view.
The resulting towns and cities are often difficult to service efficiently. Often, the first problems noticed by residents is traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
as people compete to move along the narrow urban corridor while ever more people join the ribbon further along the corridor. Urban consolidation
Urban consolidation
Urban consolidation refers to a diverse set of planning policies intended to make better use of existing urban infrastructure by encouraging development within existing urbanised areas rather than on non-urbanised land , thus limiting urban sprawl...
is often a solution to encourage growth towards a more compact urban form.
Ribbon development can also be compared with a linear village
Linear village
In geography, a linear village, or linear settlement, is a small to medium-sized settlement that is formed around a transport route, such as a road, river, or canal. Wraysbury, a village in Berkshire, is one of the longest villages in England....
which is a village that grew along a transportation route, not as part of a city's expansion.