Urban Density Improves Urban Sustainability

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“Urban density improves urban sustainability” High urban residential density in cities has positive as well as negative impacts and outcomes as far as economic, social and environmental sustainability is concerned. Urban residential density can be defined as a ratio of the sum of dwellings and buildings to the total areas of land in which these dwellings occupy and also include other regional land uses such as schools, parks, commercial centres, roads and railways (Cardew, cited in Landcom 2011). The World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) defines the term sustainability as the ability to develop ideas and practices which culminate into developments that achieve the needs of the present population without compromising the ability of future populations to achieve their own needs. This essay will evaluate the positive and negative economic, environmental and social sustainability aspects of high urban residential density so as to provide an understanding of how urban density improves urban sustainability. Economic, Environmental and SocialAdvantages of High Urban Residential Density Building construction costs of dwelling units can be economised to a great extent in high density areas (Churchman 1999). Lehmann and Associates (1995) support the idea that high density promotes land use efficiency and provides public services adequately without compromising the high quality living standards (Churchman 1999). High residential neighbourhoods located around or close to activity centres provide adequate access to services and transportation modes (Victorian Department of Infrastructure 2002). Therefore this reduces costs of transport and promotes patronage of the centres because distances are significantly reduced. Basically, a society requires high density to support public transportation modes (Newman and Kenworthy 2006). Alberti (2000) perceives

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