The Countryside Agency commissioned this piece of research from Ove Arup and Partners with the University of Gloucestershire to explore issues raised in the report, "Sustainable Development in the Countryside Around Towns", by the Centre for Urban a...

Initiatives Operating in the Urban Fringe

The Countryside Agency commissioned Arup and Partners with the University of Gloucestershire in 2004 to produce this piece of research to explore issues raised in the report, "Sustainable Development in the Countryside Around Towns", by the Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology (CURE) at Manchester University.


The CURE report highlighted the need for multi-functional landscapes in the countryside around towns, where the ' same area serves more than one purpose and is capable of fulfilling several needs at the same time'. There will be high demands on the landscapes of the future, which will have to serve simultaneously the following functions: ecological (as an area for living), economic (as an area for production), socio-cultural (as an area for recreation and identification); historical (as an area for settlement and identity), and aesthetic (as an area for experiences) - Brandt et al 2000; CURE 2002. The need for a more integrated multi-functional approach to landuse planning and management, was identified in the CURE report and was based on research work that focused on local planning authorities. 

By commissioning Arup and the University of Gloucestershire the Agency wanted to build on the CURE work, not least by looking at Countryside Agency initiatives and initiatives by others. The Arup study assesses the effectiveness of 20 initiatives in relation to the 5 multi-functional criteria, as identified by Brandt et al., also three case study areas were looked at. Three basic questions are asked, what works, where, and why? The broad framework for assessing the initiatives was informed by the UK Sustainable Development strategy (DETR 1999) which aims to ensure simultaneous achievement of: social progress which meets the needs of everyone; effective protection of the local and global environment; prudent use of natural resources, and; high and stable levels of economic growth. 

The findings from the study have been drawn together to explore their significance in relation to the development of a multi-functional vision for a sustainable urban fringe, to guide future good practice, and test how far the findings could help in the achievement of an integrated and strategic approach to urban fringe improvement.

The full report has been split into five parts and can be downloaded by clicking on the links on the right hand side. 

  1. Introduction, Methodology for the Study, and Assessment of the Initiatives
  2. Case Studies - Introduction and Swindon Study
  3. Case Studies - North East Study 
  4. Case Studies - Leeds/Bradford and Main Findings
  5. Conclusions, References and Appendices