London's Suburbs Attempt to Assert Their Independence

"London's councils seem set on continuing the imbalance between the city center and outer suburbs, where the former supplies most of the jobs, and the latter most of the residents." Joe Peach reports on economic potential of suburban independence.

1 minute read

July 24, 2010, 1:00 PM PDT

By George Haugh


Unlike Los Angeles, where daily transport routes are a nebulous arrangement that utilize freeways between a confederacy of suburbs, London has always been home to a more linear oscillation of daily commutes into and out of principal center.

"London is a city of suburbs. With a population density of around 4,795 people per square kilometer, it is less dense than other world cities, including Tokyo, Paris and New York."

"But as London continues to evolve, the role of the suburbs will need to change. At present, two-thirds of London's GDP comes from central London, yet two-thirds of the city's inhabitants live in the suburbs. This isn't necessarily a bad scenario if the framework required for this arrangement is consistent and sustainable, but at present it is far from being either of those things."

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 in The Global Urbanist

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