Johannesburg embraces ‘new urbanism’

The world’s population is growing rapidly. During the 20th century alone the population grew from 1.65 billion to 6 billion, and it is estimated that the population will reach 10 billion by 2056. With rapid increases in population, cities have become increasingly overcrowded. In response to this, urban planners have turned to ‘New Urbanism’ to tackle the issue, with Johannesburg being one of the latest cities to embrace the movement, as more and more people look for property for sale in Johannesburg.

New Urbanism has existed since the 1980s, and promotes creating walkable, and community-centric neighbourhoods which contain a mix of housing and job types. The movement seeks to include open space, architecture suited to a more cramped environment and enough space for sports, library and community-based buildings. The movement also seeks to encourage cycling, walking and public transport as a means of getting into the city.

Johannesburg plans to start its move towards these ideals through the ‘Corridors of Freedom’, a plan that aims to create well-planned transport links, mixed-use developments and more leisure and recreational areas. This plan also seeks to reduce the spatial boundaries created Apartheid that still exist today in Johannesburg.

Implementation of the plan has already begun, with the creation of the Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT), with a route from Soweto to the CBD, the CBD to Alex, Alex to Sandton, Turffontein and the mining belt already in the pipelines. Another route from Sandton to Randburg and Diepsloot, as well as Alex to Ivory Park will be constructed.

In addition to the spatial benefits of the plan, it is hoped that pollution will decrease in the process as less people use their cars to get into the city on a daily basis. In the bigger scheme of the things, the plan also aims to improve access to education and the overall quality of life as more people have easier access to what the city has to offer.