Presence and trends of linear sprawl: Explaining ribbon development in the north of Belgium

• In Flanders (Belgium), linear sprawl represents a significant form of urbanization.
• An important part of the present ribbons is rooted in previously existing patterns.
• For a long time, ribbons have stemmed from traditional urbanization processes.
• Recent ribbon development is determined by regional zoning policy.

In this paper, we propose a method to analyze ribbon development outside settlements and urban areas in Flanders (Belgium). Based on available statistics, three research hypotheses are tested, which are aimed at giving more insight in the presence and growth rate of ribbon density. From a historical perspective, we can say that an important part of the present ribbons is rooted in previously existing patterns, and that especially in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the phenomenon mainly developed in those areas where ribbon development was already considerably present. From an agglomeration effects perspective, however, we note that ribbon development is most prevalent in the most urbanized areas, with the fastest growth rates also observed in these areas. Therefore, today ribbon development is still one of the important morphologies in which urbanization processes materialize. Finally, from a policy perspective, we find that the introduction of spatial policies by means of the regional zoning plans has strongly determined the locations where ribbons could further develop, as well as the growth rate of these ribbons. Since in the most recent period we find significant differences in growth rate between the various zoning districts, the political decision-making processes that underlay the plans prove to have been of great importance for the most recent and future development of ribbons.