Evaluating the potential for urban consolidation centres

This paper focuses upon the potential for Urban Consolidation Centres (UCCs) to alleviate local environmental and traffic problems within urban areas. An international literature review was undertaken, interviews were held with a range of relevant parties, and an evaluation framework was developed. In previous work a narrow focus has typically been adopted and no examples of thorough scheme evaluation were found. A particular concern discussed in the paper is the identification and subsequent allocation of the costs and benefits of implementing and operating a UCC. Lessons learned from existing and attempted UCCs are then presented, and a number of themes and location types that point to successful implementation are identified. The likelihood of a UCC being successful depends considerably upon the legal and planning frameworks in the locality or country involved