By Huang Bin, Research Team on “A Comparative Study on the Development and Governance of Typical Capital Cities”, DRC

Research Report, Special Issue, No 24, 2016 (Total NO 1499) 2016-06-27

Abstract: The experience of London during post-war period in optimizing spatial structure, dispersing functions and treating big-city maladies can offer valuable implications to city improvement in Beijing. In spatial structure optimization, London has paid attention to cross-administrative-district regional plans and the coordinated system of laws and regulations and mechanisms for regular assessment and adjustment. It has defined the boundary lines for urban growth with green belts, and built new towns to undertake the dispersed functions from the urban areas. In function dispersal and industrial transformation, the government has promoted industrial upgrading by elevating the standards for industrial environment protection and intensifying market reform. In urban management, London has eased urban traffic congestions by controlling travel of private cars, improving the public transport system and encouraging transport with non-motor vehicles. It has basically achieved public service equality through coordination of central government’s finance and participation by private capital; and London has ensured the implementation of environmental protection measures by coordinating interests of different parties. Beijing can draw on London’s experience relating to the formulation of capital circle plan, legislative means and regular assessment and adjustment, green belts coverage and building of key new towns, dispersal of non-capital functions, management of transport demand, equalization of basic public services and environment treatment.

Key words: big-city maladies, function dispersal, Beijing, London