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What value urban design?

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Abstract

Research in the UK has sought to investigate the relationship between better urban design and enhanced value – economic, social and environmental. The work used six case studies in three linked pairs to identify quantitative and qualitative evidence to examine the case. This article presents the background review and research framework used to structure the work. It also presents the detailed findings of the study. The research concluded that better urban design does add value by increasing the economic viability of development; by delivering enhanced social benefits; and by encouraging more environmentally supportive development.

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Notes

  1. 1 Investment Returns, The Added Value of Good Urban Design Conference, Prince of Wales Institute, London.

  2. 2 Commissioned by the Commission for Architecture & the Built Environment (CABE) and the Department for the Environment, Transport & the Regions (DETR).

  3. 3 Now the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

  4. 4 Database held by IPD of commercial property performance across the UK. This information is gathered and held on behalf of most major UK property investors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, 22 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0QB, UK

    Matthew Carmona, Claudio de Magalhães & Michael Edwards

Authors
  1. Matthew Carmona
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  2. Claudio de Magalhães
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  3. Michael Edwards
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Correspondence to Matthew Carmona.

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Carmona, M., Magalhães, C. & Edwards, M. What value urban design?. Urban Des Int 7, 63–81 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.udi.9000069

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