Land readjustment as a method of development land assembly: A comparative overview

In many countries land readjustment (LR) is a preferred legal instrument for development land assembly, especially when public funds for compulsory purchase and infrastructure provision may be lacking. There is a scattered literature on the subject, but limited awareness of it in the English-speaking world. This paper, after summarising the LR method and the literature on its application, discusses its use in selected countries and its trans-national transfer, from origins in Germany to subsequent use in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. The reasons for its absence from British town planning legislation are discussed. The conclusions evaluate the factors influencing its adoption and success, and its potential application for different land assembly situations.