摘要：The number of private gated developments continues
to grow in Britain, in apparent contradiction to the
government's urban policy aims of developing balanced, sustainable, mixed communities. There has been
no official recognition of the trend towards gated communities, nor any national debate about their desirability
as a built or social form. Contradictory guidance
is given to local authorities about the design priorities
for new housing developments. A case study tracks
the planning process of a gated Community in Sheffield
in order to illustrate the problems of regulating this
new form of housing. Interviews with key players in
this development inform discussion about the supply
and demand for gated communities, which are found
to be influenced by globalised marketing trends for
ideal housing types, and a pervasive fear of crime. The
issues which are highlighted by the growth of gated
communities in Britain demand more attention than
can be provided by the current policy vacuum.
