Leiden University Student Repository

Goch, Maarten van (2025)

The sustainable development of London through urban agriculture: From the Second World War to the green revolution to the modern age

Bachelor thesis | Urban Studies (BA)

Urban agriculture throughout history has served the purpose of bolstering food security. Whether in times of crises, war, food price fluctuations or political instability, this has been the primary priority for urban agriculture for most of the 20th century. Utilising a 3 pillar methodology (Ecological, Economical and Social) and sourcing data from newspaper archives, this thesis project has outlined the development of urban farming in three stages throughout the 20th century and the 21st. How the development of urban agriculture in London has made their city more sustainable through; victory gardens during WWII, city farms in post-war Britain and the Green Revolution, and lastly through urban farms in modern London. This project details the history of how urban agriculture has contributed to the sustainable development of London throughout the last century.

Victory Gardens, City farm, Urban farm, Urban agriculture, Sustainable Development

Author

Goch, Maarten van

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Supervisors

Renaud, T.R.

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en