The Garden City

John Claudius Loudon's 1829 vision for London predates Ebenezer Howard's green belt proposal by 69 years, and the reference to country towns hints that Howard knew of the plan. Loudon's contingency plan that the system should be continued 'till one of the zones touched the sea' is more realistic than any subsequent plan for 'containing' London's sprawl. The idea of governments purchasing land on the fringe of the metropolis would introduce a degree of fairness which is totally lacking from the current planning arrangements. Loudon states that the circles are diagrammatic and should respond to circumstances. In planning for public transport, food production and waste recycling, Loudon shows himself more sustainability conscious than twentieth century planners. Loudon also has a plan for coordinated service ducts beneath streets. There is a proposal for the creation of public open space by what we would now call 'planning gain'