Malls as future midtowns: a US argument that lands on London’s town centres
A Planetizen feature argues shopping malls are becoming the midtowns of the future. The piece is US-focused commentary, not a planning decision…
Read updateZoning and Density
Density, land use, height, mixed-use and zoning tools.
When zoning reform meets private covenants: the HOA obstacle to backyard cottages
As more US cities rewrite zoning rules to allow accessory dwellings, private homeowners’ association covenants remain a barrier that reform alone cannot…
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Seattle’s Centers & Corridors Zoning Update Delayed by Environmental Review Ruling
A state hearings board ruling has forced Seattle to rework the environmental impact statement for its twenty-year growth plan, pushing the next…
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The gap between zoning reform and new homes: what London can learn from the triplex permitting gap
Making more housing types legal is only the first step. A new analysis from Strong Towns shows how building code thresholds, professional…
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Clyde Hill’s Affordable Housing Settlement Offers a Case Study in State-Led Planning Pressure
The wealthy Seattle suburb is close to settling a legal challenge over its growth plan by offering developers extra building rights in…
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A transect for sprawl: can classifying suburban streets help London rethink its edges?
A planner’s thought experiment proposes a tiered system for rating commercial and residential streets by walkability. Could a similar taxonomy help London…
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What the fall of Angkor reveals about the risks of low-density urban sprawl
A new analysis of the fall of Angkor, the ancient Khmer capital, draws parallels between its sprawling, low-density infrastructure and the vulnerabilities…
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Digital twins and zoning: what the Esri conference means for London planning
A planner’s report from the 2024 Esri User Conference examines how ArcGIS Urban and CityEngine are reshaping scenario testing, development review and…
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On-demand transit expansions in US cities offer lessons for flexible transport planning
Three US transit agencies have expanded on-demand services into new zones, providing a model for flexible public transport that London planners and…
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San Francisco Residents File Lawsuit Against City and State Over Transit-Oriented Housing Exclusions
A new legal challenge claims San Francisco and the state of California acted illegally by exempting nearly 1,900 parcels from a state…
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New Jersey ruling on local zoning and public benefit: a comparative view for London planning
A New Jersey Supreme Court decision that local zoning authority outweighs general public benefits has implications for the tension between localism and…
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San Francisco upzoning test offers density lessons for London housing debate
An 8‑storey condo tower approved under San Francisco’s new upzoning rules is the first project to test the city’s density push. While…
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