Settlementsrather

Settlementsrather is a theoretical framework in urban geography and regional planning that emphasizes the development and interconnection of multiple settlements within a regional network instead of concentrating growth in a single urban core. The term combines "settlements" with the word "rather" to indicate a preference for distributing growth across a landscape.

Core principles include fostering polycentric regional development, strengthening inter-settlement transport and communication infrastructure, and ensuring equitable access to housing, jobs, and services across towns and villages.

Proponents argue that settlementsrather can enhance resilience by reducing dependence on a single city, lowering commuting emissions, preserving rural and ecological values, and supporting local economies.

Practices associated with settlementsrather include coordinated land-use planning across jurisdictions, regional governance arrangements, and investment in travel-demand management, affordable housing, and local entrepreneurship within smaller communities.

Critics caution that implementing a settlementsrather approach requires complex governance and funding arrangements, and may risk inefficiencies or perceived neglect of larger urban centers if not balanced.

Although largely conceptual, settlementsrather has been discussed in regional planning literature and in policy discussions about polycentric development and rural-urban linkages.