Gentle density

The term 'gentle density' appears alongside the description of beauty in the notes which accompany the NPPF (as updated in December 2023 under the conservative ) which stated that the then Conservative government would deliver ‘enough of the right homes in the right places with the right infrastructure, ensuring the environment is protected and giving local people a greater say on where and where not to place new, beautiful development…specifically, this includes changes to…promote more beautiful homes, including through gentle density’.

Sustrans a United Kingdom-based walking, wheeling and cycling charity, and the custodian of the National Cycle Network refers to gentle density as key principle in their report "Stepping off the Road to Nowhere: How changing transport modelling can create green growth, sustainable transport and beautiful streets and homes." It describes gentle density "In contrast to low-density sprawl, gentle density means building low and midrise buildings arranged on a well-connected network of streets and public spaces to get the most out of the land. In practice, this means more characterful, better overlooked streets, squares and parks. Typically there is more terraced housing and fewer detached homes in cul-de-sacs."

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