Chapter 06 · Governance & regulationDevelopment, Impact & Global Frameworks
Compact city
Definition
The compact city is an urban-development model characterised by relatively high density, mixed land use, intensification of existing urban areas and containment of outward expansion. The concept was articulated academically by Dantzig and Saaty in 1973, drew on Jane Jacobs's defence of urban density, and was promoted at policy level by the European Commission's 1990 Green Paper on the Urban Environment.
References
definition; Dantzig & Saaty 1973; Jacobs; EC Green Paper 1990; density/mixed-use/limits
Overview
What it means
Compactness reduces travel distances, protects surrounding land and makes public transport and district infrastructure viable.
How it is used
OECD comparative work assesses how compact-city policies perform across metropolitan areas, weighing environmental gains against risks such as congestion and reduced local green space if poorly designed.
Why it matters
Urban form locks in emissions for decades; compact development is a core strategy for low-carbon, liveable cities.