Changing Shape of Sustainable Urban Form with Technological Progress

Through history urban form has been dependent on transport and industrial technologies. Policy makers in Western economies have taken a view that a sustainable urban form is high density and compact. The basic hypothesis of the paper is that technological progress has undermined this argument, and enhanced the case for decentralised settlements. It considers this through the experience of the UK and the rise of online sales. The dramatic rise in flexible work patterns has also opened a new vista on urban sustainability. In addition, the prospect of electric motor removes the main argument for compact urban forms.