The 20-minute neighborhood concept as a model for developing new expansion zones

Abstract

High automobile ownership rates have helped to develop low-density, car-dependent suburbs, contributing to urban sprawl. Prompting a shift in municipal policy that prioritizes local accessibility, has also emphasized the value of active travel, such as walking and cycling, . This has renewed interest in compact urban planning, which seeks to maximize land utilization and encourage sustainable development. As cities expand rapidly, there is a greater necessity for planning frameworks that embrace sustainability and a greater focus on active transport. The 20- minute neighborhood concept, which allows inhabitants to reach key services like stores, schools, and healthcare within a 10-minute walking or biking in each direction back and forth, has grown in popularity as a practical solution to satisfying these demands. Urban expansion in Palestine is unplanned and scattered, resulting in sprawl and inefficient land usage. The absence of comprehensive urban planning standards frequently leads to unregulated growth, with expanded neighborhoods and infrastructure constructed without proper planning for amenities, services, or transit systems. Therefore, resolving unplanned urban sprawl in Palestine necessitates the implementation of harder land use restrictions, sustainable development models, and comprehensive planning programs that encourage appropriate density, accessibility, and transit connection. This study introduces the 20-minute neighborhood concept as an ideal framework for developing new expansion zones, emphasizing important urban planning elements such as land use, population density, transport, amenities, and public services. Examining cities worldwide that have effectively applied this concept, like Melbourne (Australia), Scotland (UK), and Wyndham. The study assessed the current performance of an existing neighborhood in Hebron, Palestine, through a field survey and analysis of the neighborhood's basic components (infrastructure, buildings, distribution of services and dwellings, land use, and population density). The technique included mapping the distribution of residential buildings and calculating walking distances to quantify accessibility based on journey times between residences and facilities using the buffer zone analyst tool by ArcGIS Pro 3 software. The findings helped in proposing interventions to implement the 20-minute neighborhood concept and developing a theoretical model for this concept, which was then applied to an expansion area in Halhul town located in the north of IV Hebron, where a model for a 20-minute neighborhood was developed that can be generalized to all similar expansion areas in Palestine, as this approach aims to generalize the findings and improve urban planning efforts in these regions. Finally, recommendations were made at multiple levels, including those for future urban planning, such as the need to consider the proportionality of population density with services and public transport, the availability of public transport infrastructure within neighborhoods, as well as recommendations for planners, local municipalities, and decision-makers, and others related to future research. Keywords: 20-minute neighborhood, density, mixed land use, sustainable city, active transport.