The search for sustainable urban forms represents a central component of the national and international debate to achieve the goal of sustainable development. The research reported in this paper focuses on two medium size cities, formerly with similar densities and travel patterns, but which now reflect either end of the car dependence spectrum in the United Kingdom. The modern form and nature of Belfast and Edinburgh are quite different in terms of density, mobility patterns and the characteristics of their transport infrastructure, and thus provide for a suitable comparative and exploratory analysis. The project included a lifestyles based household survey, of approximately 2,000 households in the two city regions and conducted in the Summer 2001. It also included a stated preference experiment. This examined the choices people make when buying or renting a property faced with a range of transport and land use initiatives typical of the sustainable development agenda. A business survey of 125 properties in the two city regions (65 in Edinburgh and 60 in Belfast) was also undertaken to ascertain business response to sustainable transport policy initiatives. A stated preference experiment examined the choices businesses make when buying or renting a property. This followed a similar format to the household survey stated preference experiment. In examining sustainable transport and land use policy links to economic development, the focus is on the links between urban form, travel behaviour and location preferences. Discrete choice modelling has been incorporated using the stated preference data. Further research and modelling developments, and the conclusions, are presented. For the covering abstract see ITRD E126595.
Abstract