The Genius of Copenhagen’s 1947 ‘Fingers Plan’ vs England’s Green Belt Policy

In 1947, Copenhagen introduced the revolutionary ‘fingers plan’ — an urban blueprint promoting city growth along linear transit corridors. This visionary model not only accommodated urban expansion but also ensured that both new and existing residents had seamless access to green spaces. See, sustainable growth is easy!

Contrastingly, as we peer into England’s landscape in 2023, the green belt policies that currently apply to many of our cities may be an impediment to such sustainable thinking. Given the buzz around potential policy amendments, one naturally ponders the growth possibilities if these were redefined.

We’re surrounded by underutilised infrastructure — small railway stations on forgotten branch lines, disused railways abandoned in the ’60s, or even former trunk roads which are now by-passed. Can we not transform these national assets to facilitate the housing growth we desperately need? Or even start again and construct transit fingers.

Imagine “growth finger transit corridors” — stations anchoring 10-minute neighbourhoods, ensuring every resident can access essential services within a 1km radius. But then, what about the spaces between these stations? While rail has its merits, have we considered transitioning to bus-based systems or other forms of mass transit such as tram-based, or even autonomous vehicle-based, solutions? Drawing inspiration from Cambridge, I’ve witnessed the potential offered by busways which are importantly integrated with cycleways, and development frontage.

Sure, the path isn’t without hurdles — challenges like corridor width, land ownership, carriageway construction, legislative constraints, and more. But imagine the opportunities! A place of human-centric design, green integration, linked communities, innovative design, economic growth, and integrated transport beckons.

With infrastructure transforming from barriers to connectors, we can reimagine communities unified through bustling transit corridors and vibrant activity hubs. And as we step into the future, these buses will evolve into Autonomous Vehicle (AV) shuttles, offering dynamic coupling during peak times or on-demand services at other times.

Such ambitious projects mandate cohesive efforts from the public sector. But that’s the essence of joined-up governance, right?

The future isn’t just on the horizon — it’s here! Let’s seize it.

Jon Tricker