CATFORD URBAN VISION

by Aesha Mehta

Name

Aesha Mehta

Email

aeshamehta@icloud.com

Course

MArch Architecture

Catford’s Urban Vision is strongly influenced by the French-Colombian scientist Carlos Moreno’s 15-minute city concept, which delivers most everyday necessities within walking or cycling distance of residents’ homes. 15-minute cities are constructed from a sequence of 5-minute neighbourhoods, which are also defined as complete communities or walkable neighbourhoods. The idea has been termed a “return to a local way of life.” The project is part of a larger Catford masterplan project focusing particularly on the Plassy Island site which is located to the south of the main shopping area and is bounded by the Catford gyratory system. The essential aim of the project is to provide “better” housing with a more equitable, inclusive, and stronger sense of community that works in collaboration with the community people, more public spaces in which to play, mix, and socialise, support for neighbourhood businesses and entrepreneurs, and the opportunity for people to spend more time with family and friends, their local area, and the things they enjoy doing. In the wider picture, this type of model will also lower transport emissions and improve air quality by reducing unnecessary and unwanted travel, shifting away from private vehicles.