*In many cities an increasing number of people do not know their neighbours and there is lack of a sense of community.* *What are the causes of this problem?* *How can it be solved?*

It is certainly true that more people nowadays do not have a close relationship with their

neighbours and

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neighbours, and

that

this

has weakened communities in our cities.

This

is probably due to a combination of our more mobile society and the nature of new building developments and is a problem that will require better planning policies. One main cause of

this

change is the trend for people to move home to find work.

This

mobility means that there is less chance for people to put down roots in a

community

and establish relationships with their neighbours. If,

for example

, a person moves city once every five

years

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years, then

then

it is most unlikely that they will form lasting relationships where they live. Another important factor is that when people move into a new area they often live in apartment blocks and not houses.

This

matters because these blocks do not have common social areas where people can meet each other in the same way as is possible in more traditional housing estates. It is possible for people who live in these new high rise buildings never to see each other, still less get to know each other well enough to form a bond. Any solution to

this

problem will probably involve local government adopting planning policies that are focused on the

community

. While it is unlikely that anything can be done about social mobility, it is possible for local authorities to encourage a greater sense of

community

by ensuring new building developments have social spaces where people can meet each other regularly. These could include green spaces where children can play together, local markets and

community

halls. My conclusion is that there may be nothing to be done about social

mobility but

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mobility, but

it is possible for local government to foster a greater sense of

community

by ensuring new developments are more

community

friendly.