ABSTRACT
Neighbourhoods, existing or new, are seen in their wider context, linked to the whole town or city. If human and planetary health is the aim, then radical approaches are needed. The attraction for private developers is that greenfield sites are normally cheaper to buy than brownfield, easier to develop, suffer less congestion and offer a greener environment. Indicators of malaise include: It is impossible to make effective policies without a sound understanding of the development process why and how change happens, or why it does not. The strategy for gradual neighbourhood renewal, when an area is in decline, is to try to trigger renewed confidence and vigour. Commercial strips in outer suburban areas, sometimes including industrial estates, and often reaching out into open country, may offer long-term potential for adaptation as the focus of linear settlements. Private property rights need to be balanced with communal rights if essential neighbourhood assets are to be safeguarded.
