Potential for carfree development in the UK

Carfree residential areas have been developed in a number of cities in Europe, with clear social and environmental benefits, but the concept has not been widely adopted in the UK. This paper aims to assess the potential consumer demand for housing in carfree developments in the UK and the circumstances under which it might be feasible. Two surveys of possible target groups were conducted: an online national survey aimed at members of environmental and cycling groups and a postal survey in Camden, London, followed by qualitative telephone interviews with a subset from both surveys. The findings revealed that potential demand for carfree housing is concentrated among 'carfree choosers' - people who currently live without cars by choice. These are mainly found in the inner areas of larger cities, where the greatest potential for carfree development exists. A substantial minority of carfree choosers would like to move to less urban locations; in these circumstances proximity to good rail services is a key requirement