Driverless vehicles have the potential to free up more than 6,300ha of land in London for development, according to estimates by consultancy firm Arcadis.
Up to 80% of space allocated to car parking in every city could be reclaimed once connected and autonomous vehicles are introduced, the firm said in its Citizens in Motion report.
The total figure for London is based on Ordnance Survey estimates that 5% of land in UK cities is dedicated to parking. Driverless vehicles would significantly cut the need for parking and the problem of congestion, assuming ride-sharing continues to gain traction through apps such as Uber.
Space freed up in London would be able to support more than 180,000 homes, assuming an average housing density of 30 dwellings per hectare.
Peter Hogg, UK cities director at Arcadis, said: “London is grappling with congestion, overcrowded transport, poor air quality and the need to improve the citizen experience. As we move towards mega-city status by 2040, these mobility challenges are going to become increasingly prevalent.
“We have the opportunity now to be on the front foot: how London embraces CAV will be a key fork in the road that will either enhance or frustrate how well London performs economically.
“From building CAV into the city planning process, to incentivisation, regulation and licensing, true success will come only if we can recognise and respond proactively to CAV disruption in a way that works specifically for London and – more importantly – its citizens.”
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