ABSTRACT
Thousands of new towns have been built this century. It is impossible to keep totally up to date with plans and programmes throughout the world, but an international selection of new towns is included in a recent topicguide (Ramsay, 1985a). Given the significance of this development effort in a world context, what have been the main lessons of twentieth century experiences in building new towns? The solutions adopted tend to vary from one country to another. Some conscious attempt to learn from other countries and even copying undoubtedly occurs, but nevertheless modifications are often made, reflecting the specific objectives of the promoters and the particular circumstances in which programmes have been launched. Furthermore, no new town is a total success in everyone’s eyes: any project can be praised in one respect and condemned in another; or its planners congratulated by one critic and berated by another.
