FORGOTTEN NEEDS - THE DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACT OF FREESTANDING NEW SETTLEMENTS

For some time, local authorities have attempted to restrict the reside ntial development of large, medium and small settlements on the ground s of the regional and local land use planning impacts. However, the ch anging distribution of national populations and associated housing pre ssure during recent decades suggest a need for a more appropriate land use planning response. One such approach is the creation of free-stan ding new settlements. Using a Scottish case study, this paper assesses the impact of such developments on residential mobility patterns and examines the socio-economic characteristics of residents and their lev el of satisfaction with the provision of services. The study provides one measure of the effectiveness of new settlements as a planning mech anism for meeting the needs of residential development from the consum ers perspective. It is concluded that free-standing new settlements ar e in danger of becoming elitist satellite communities cohere residents are likely to be disadvantaged in terms of service provision.