New Towns

Master-Planned Community

What Is a Planned Unit Development?

A Planned Unit Development (PUD) is a specific type of plan or development commonly associated with master planned communities and sprawl. The specific definitions of a PUD vary by jurisdiction, but the term generally refers to a flexible approach to the planning of a variety of housing types and land uses on a relatively large portion of land.

May 2, 2022 - James Brasuell

Master-Planned Cittes

Why California Should Not, Cannot Solve Its Housing Crisis By Building New Cities

A recent essay advocates for the development of a new city in California to alleviate the state's housing crisis. The argument needs a few tweaks.

April 4, 2022 - Josh Stephens

Garden City

What Is the Garden City Movement?

Born as a reaction to the crowded, dirty conditions in turn-of-the-century London and other industrial cities, the Garden City movement offers an idealized planned community designed to join elements of town and country.

December 27, 2021 - Diana Ionescu

Solar Powered City

The Potential of New Towns

Richard Peiser and Ann Forsyth discuss their latest book, New Towns for the Twenty-First Century: A Guide to Planned Communities Worldwide, with the Penn Institute for Urban Research.

February 21, 2021 - Penn IUR Urban Link

Arborea, Sardinia, Italy

Inside Mussolini's Fascist New Town

Founded in 1928, the fascist new town of Arborea (formerly known as Mussolinia) still shows hints of the divergence between the traditional towns of Sardinia and the modernist leanings of its founders.

November 30, 2016 - Wallpaper

U.K. Coalition Government Split Over Garden Cities Report Publication

The leader of the Liberal Democrats, half of the UK's coalition government, accuses the Conservatives of withholding a report that identifies sites for two new towns in 'safe' Conservative regions.

January 14, 2014 - BBC News

Can UK Politicians Force Owners to Develop Fallow Properties?

Britain's opposition Labour Party is promising to tackle the country's housing crisis as a centerpiece of its next election campaign. A proposed “use it or lose it” law aimed at forcing developers to build on fallow land is causing controversy.

October 8, 2013 - Next City

Britain's 'New Towns' Offer Lessons for Addressing Country's Housing Shortage

The mixed successes of Britain's post-war 'new town' and 'expanded town' developments offer some valuable lessons for those seeking to solve the country's acute housing shortage.

August 7, 2013 - The Economist

A Call For Smart Growth-Based New Towns

It's politics, not planning, that drives up housing costs. Rather than back away from regulations, more professional planning is needed to create healthy and affordable communities.

April 9, 2008 - The Seattle Times

Mexican Developer Wants To Build New Cities From Scratch

Capitalizing on the booming Mexican home market and government calls for better urban planning, Mexico's second biggest residential developer is planning six new towns complete with homes, stores, employment and schools.

April 4, 2008 - Reuters

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

"Rethinking Commuter Rail" podcast & Intercity Bus E-News

Chaddick Institute at DePaul University

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.