Green Goals with Josh Cole

Last week, the government made some positive changes to support urban density. However, these changes alone will not be enough to combat the ongoing issue of urban sprawl.

If we truly want to create smart, efficient, and inspiring cities, we need to prioritise building homes where the existing infrastructure is already in place.

Compact cities allow people to easily access the places that are important to them, while also being affordable. Implementing mixed-use zoning and enabling more housing and shops along strategic transport corridors are steps in the right direction.

These measures will help us achieve the density needed to bring our cities to life.

However, if we continue to focus on disjointed greenfield development and prioritize car-centric transportation, we will only perpetuate the current sprawl.

We must avoid further car-dependent sprawl, especially considering the urgent need to reduce emissions. Allowing suburbs to sprawl will lead to a decline in efficiency and an increase in pollution within our cities.

The solutions to both the housing and climate crises lie in the same approach: creating denser and greener cities that are less reliant on cars and incorporate more nature.

By prioritising density, we can build cities that are well-suited for the 21st century.

These cities will be vibrant, efficient, and able to accommodate our communities without putting a burden on our environment.