The relationship between urban form and land-use regulation in China: the case of Nanjing

Urban form is shaped by numerous factors interacting across various social strata, notably influenced by the dynamics of economic development and urban policy. Urban planning policies related to land use play a vital role in the change and management of urban form. In this context, this study examines the influence of land use regulations on urban form in China, using Nanjing as a case study. We investigate relevant urban planning policies at national, provincial, and local city planning administration levels. Depending on their impact on urban form, these policies can be classified as having a direct impact, an indirect influence or no effect, predominantly encompassing mandatory land use conditions, building layout and guiding principles for urban landscape organization. Focusing on land use regulations at the street- block and plot scale, we established a morphological model adhering to these regulations and a correlation evaluation chart. This correlation was validated using 142 plots and 5 street blocks in Nanjing's historical city centre. Our findings reveal the implications of these policies on the specific physical structure of the urban form through theoretical and empirical analysis. This research significantly contributes to the method of morphological modelling and the revision of relevant urban policy and design specifications.