Evening star., 1925-09-05
CAPITAL PLANNING
STUDIED IN BRITAIN
London Architect Believes
American Methods Ap-
ply in England.
BY WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT.
Dispatch to The Star

Special Dispatch to The Star.
LONDON, September 3.-It will be
a satisfaction to Washington TO know
that it's city planning, zoning, hous-
ing and general construction regula-
tions are being studied throughout
Great Britain, as models for municipal
expansion, through the report OF u.
Topham Forrest, f. r. l. B. A,
architect of the London County, as
the result of his recent American
visit
Mr.. Forrest, whose position CORE y
spends to the city architect OF the
larger cities of the United States, but
which is rather broader in scope be-
cause he also has influence in mat
ters which usually come under "a
fine arts commission, is warm in
his praise of the courtesies received
in Washington, New York, Chicago,
Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
Boston, Buffalo and other cities cited
at length in his report.
His general conclusion is that Lon
don can adopt many ideas he found
in America with great advantage to
the development of the worlds
largest city The work of the Ma
tional Fine Arts Commission, espe-
cially, in guiding Washington along
the plans of the original L'Enfant
scheme, wins his commendation, as
does the control being exercised over
residential districts, height of build
ings, commercial areas, etc.
Kings Approval.
King George showed approval of
the main recommendations in Mr..
Forests report on his American tour
at the formal opening on July IS of
Ken Wood. park of 12l acres,
when his majesty said:
Until recent years we We're ac
customed to regard the expansion of
London as an inevitable and uncon-
trollable force, and could only regret
the loss of so much natural beauty.
Experience has now shown that,
while the growth of towns cannot be
retarded, it can be so guided by en-
hGhtened public spirit that the de-
Velopment of new areas need not
destroy the present amenities of the
district"
Thus is shown the new determina-
ton in London to end the haphazard
expansion of the city, as we'll as TO
redeem the older areas so far as prac-
ticable. The American tourist i'm
mediately is struck with the expensive
work now going on of widening the
Strand and other streets, and is greatly
impressed with the reconstruction OF
Regent street with a prOViSo that only
stone fronts may be erected This
will make Regent street an exceeding
ly handsome thoroughfare of retail
shops.
Washington, therefore. or any of
its citizens. need not feel that the
Zoning regulations are peculiar to the
National Capital In London. as in
the recent Supreme Court DECISION,
the view is held that the public must
be considered in building operations
as well as the individual owner s
wishes. Hence, Mr.. Forrest strongly
recommends that the height of build
tngS in London be regulated with re
gard to sunlight, air and traffic. AS
traffic is now an acute problem in
London, his views seem likely to pre-
vail
London Streets Narrow
The great difficulty here, as com.
pared with Washington or New York,
continues Mr.. Forrest is in the mar.
row, crooked streets. The average
width of London streets is 28 feet,
while in New York. for instance, the
main thoroughfares are 100 feet wide
and the cross streets 60 feet wide
Moreover, the streets in most Ameri-
can cities intersect at right angles,
whereas. in London they not only are
narrow but are a craZy-quilt layout.
London is going through the same
agitation over traffic that preceded
the act of Congress creating the
present traffic control system in
Washington, but with much more of
a problem to solve than Washington
had because of the conditions men
toned above. Many London streets
are no wider than our alleys. The
advent of the volume Of traffic now
choking London streets was un-
dreamed of in the days when the
streets were laid out. and Mr. Forrest
fs trying to find a solution of the
problem in the regulation of L'rild-
ings, so as to prevent further con
gestion of population in areas where
motor transportation already is at a
maximum.
Just as in some of the newest resi-
dental sections of Washington the
layout of strets has at times violated
the orderly development of the city,
50 in London. Mr.. Forrest says,
Streets are usually laid out from
plans prepared by owners of estates.
In the result the general layout of
an area is largely accidental" And
ne comments upon the tendency of a
stereotyped plan in these real estate
development projects without regard
to typographical conditions or the
consideration of London as a whole.
Fire Prevention
The effect on the appearance and
safety of streets, of signs and ad-
vertising, is considered more closely
in America than in London, SAYS Mr.
Forrest, who recommends additional
authority be given the city in this re-
spect. AS for fire escape facilities,
Mr.. Forrest, in the main, feels that
London is in a satisfactory position,
although the external stairs of Amer
lean theaters, for instance, are un-
known in London. And in London
theaters smoking is freely permitted.
When he comes to the subject of
coming Mr.. Forrest is enthusiastic
over the progress made in Washing
ton and other American cities, Justly
ing his recommendations to the Lon
don County Council in this way:
with the enlargement of the town,
civic pride demands that its planning
shall be such as to give dignity. and
when the town becomes a great city
of various occupations and diverse in
terests, there arises need of control
of the various parts. primarily in
order that the advantage of one shall
not be exercised to the undue detri-
ment of other and neighboring inter
ests. In the cities of the United
States there is a keen apprecia ton
of the advantages to be obtained bV
the individual from the control exer-
cised by the municipal bodies under
the Zoning ordinances: and the realiZa.
lion on the part of the individual that
zoning protects and enhances the
Value of his particular property,
svhile at the same time encouraging
the improvement of the general lay
but of the town. accounts for. the fact
hat hoS Il