Planning instruments enhance the acceptance of urban densification

Significance

This study identifies how densification projects and accompanying planning instruments can increase the democratic acceptance of urban densification projects by combining a conjoint experiment of densification project characteristics with different proximity frames. Our study advances the urban densification debate by integrating various tangible measures that can influence the acceptance of densification projects in a comparative perspective. Results indicate decreasing levels of acceptance with closer proximity to respondents’ homes. Project-related factors and planning instruments enhance people’s acceptance by mitigating some of the commonly perceived adverse effects of densification. Thus, planners have options to implement locally accepted housing densification projects, which can enhance the democratic legitimacy of urban planning endeavors for sustainably addressing the global housing crisis.

Abstract

Dense and compact cities yield several benefits for both the population and the environment, including the containment of urban sprawl, reduced carbon emissions, and increased housing supply. Densification of the built environment is thus a key contemporary urban planning paradigm worldwide. However, local residents often oppose urban densification, motivating a need to understand their underlying concerns. In order to do so, we examined different factors driving public acceptance of housing densification projects through a combination of a conjoint survey experiment and different proximity frames among 12,402 participants across Berlin, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, and Paris. Respondents compared housing densification projects with varying attributes, including their geographic proximity, project-related factors, and accompanying planning instruments. The results indicate that the acceptance of such projects decreases with project proximity and that project-related factors, such as the type of investor, usage, and climate goals, impact densification project acceptance. More specifically, we see a negative effect on acceptance levels for projects with for-profit investors and a positive effect when the suggested developments are mixed use or climate neutral. In addition, planning instruments, such as rent control, inclusionary zoning, and participatory planning, appear to positively influence acceptance. Interestingly, a cross-continental comparison shows overall higher acceptance levels of densification by US respondents. These multifaceted results allow us to better understand what drives people's acceptance of housing projects and how projects and planning processes can be designed to increase democratic acceptance of urban densification.