Town Planning and the Neighbourhood Unit Concept
| Author | Peter Collison |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.1954.tb01221.x |
| Published date | 01 December 1954 |
| Date | 01 December 1954 |
Town
Planning
and
the
Neigh
bourhood
Unit Concept
By
PETER COLLISON
Mr.
Collisovr
made a study
of
the neighbourhood unit
concept
for
his
Ph.D.
at the University
of
Birmingham.
He
is
now
a Student
of
Nufield
Coifege.
-HE
neighbourhood unit concept provides a theoretical basis for the planning
of residential areas. It is intended principally, although not exclusively,
for use in the larger urban centres. The elements of the concept may be
divided conveniently into two groups which we here term
"
technicat
"
and
"
social
"
respectively.
A
brief description of these elements is given below.
Fuller accounts may be found in the
"
Dudley Report
"I
or in the original
proposals for neighbourhood planning put forward by Clarence
A.
Perry.2
The Concept
It should be borne
in
mind that in practice the various elements in the
concept are given different emphasis according to the approaches made by
different planners as well as to differences in the areas to which it is applied.
Thus, some planners might stress its importance as an approach to traffic
problems, others its service in the solution of certain aesthetic problems, and
yet others its use in inducing community activity and a sense of neighbourliness
in the large city.
Technical
Roads.
Basic to neighbourhood theory is the idea that traffic which
has no destination within the unit should be discouraged from entering
it.
This suggests the main means of definition and
it
is
agreed that, ideally,
neighbourhoods should be located within the areas lying between main
traffic routes. Roads internal to the unit are designed merely for local
communication and are shown winding about local features. By employing
neighbourhood layouts, therefore, it is hoped to separate fast traffic from
residential areas.
Population.
Population levels employed vary widely.
10,000
persons
is often regarded as an optimum, however, as
it
is calculated that this number
should contain a child population sufficient to maintain two schools. Within
units there are to be sub-groupings with smaller populations.
Inevitably there must be considerable variation in the actual
size of units if only for the fact that, as the city centre is approached, the
areas between the main roads become smaller. However,
482
acres was
recommended, in the Dudley ReportY3 as suitable for units in open develop-
ment.
Amenities.
The siting of amenities, churches, schools and the various
types of shop, for example,
so
that a maximum number of people are served
with the greatest possible convenience is a major planning problem. By
breaking the residential areas of
his
city down into neighbourhood units
and using these units for the purpose of providing amenities the planner
Area.
463
To continue reading
Request your trial