With a simplified version of the software (Urbax 21 “New Districts”) this case study makes it possible to discover the fundamental mechanisms of development: the fixing of land prices, financing of facilities, dealing with land use regulations in the local plan, land use strategy (pre-emption, expropriation, amicable buyouts). This makes it possible to assess the interaction between the three main actors: landowners, developers, local authorities.
The role play includes the local authority, public housing association, three promoters. For pedagogical needs, the economic and demographic (demand for housing) environment are stabilised.
The trainees’ objective is to carry out coherent and compact urban development over this large sector of 150 hectares while being confronted with the spontaneous tendency of the actors in the market that would lead to dispersed development and a drain on local finances.