First ConnectedCity 

Background

The name ‘First ConnectedCity’ is used in this case study for reasons of democracy and historical precedent.

• Democracy because the names of ConnectedCites will not be imposed from outside but decided by the inhabitants of the towns of which they are composed, and;

• Historical precedent because First Garden City Ltd established and ran Letchworth, the first Garden City.

Context

Both North and East Hertfordshire are in the lowest third of district population densities in England, with North Herts ranked as 211th of the 326 districts and an average density of 340 person/sq.km and East Herts 224th with a density of 291 p/sq.km. The average for England is 395 p/sq.km.

The now defunct East of England Plan proposed large-scale development to the west and north of Stevenage. North Herts council have recently published proposals for development there and in other areas, none of them well-served by inter-town transport.

FCC Even Growth Target Population

The population of the towns is around 225,000, which is 0.35% of the total UK population.

If the FCC is accommodate its pro-rate proportion of the national demand, it must provide housing for 0.35% of 20M by 2050, and 0.35% of 24M by 2080. Thus the ‘even growth’ scenario indicates that by 2050 the population of the towns of the First ConnectedCity would have increased by 71,000 to 295,000, and by 2080 it will have increased by 85,000 to 310,000.