European-style apartments gave a sufficient density of population to make public transport, shops and cafes viable. This contrasted with most of the greenfield sites built around lower densities, where local businesses didn’t thrive in the same way.

Eddington near Cambridge is built as low-rise flats and townhouses. This is one of the few places that we have visited which has shops and cafes open, plus excellent public transport into Cambridge and area via the busway.

Shops in Kidbrooke village, London. Shops, cafes and restaurants at street level in a pleasant walkable environment are viable when the density of population is high, one of the benefits of apartments as opposed to low density car-based sprawl.

Bath Riverside

These spacious and modern apartments on the edge of Uppsala were typical of what is being built in Sweden in response to their housing shortage. Built for a mix of tenures, with affordable rent for those not wishing to buy, high density means less land is used and more available for green areas, of which there were many. Parking is generally in the basement. And there are cycle spaces there for winter use, too.

Apartments in Kungsängen, Uppsala, Sweden. The city has deliberately decided to build at higher densities to enable local vibrancy, economic growth and connected communities. With many people living in proximity, shops, cafes, restaurants and civic amenities become viable. With an excellent and frequent bus network made all the better by so many people living near to stops, the bus is what everyone uses unless they cycle or walk, including—we found—to visit nature reserves and lakes. A tram is planned, public transport is very popular.