#RMS_011

At the turn of the twentieth century, the British urban planner Ebenezer Howard proposed a radical solution to the overcrowding and pollution of Victorian industrial cities. His vision was the 'Garden City,' a planned settlement that aimed to combine the economic opportunities of the city with the fresh air and natural beauty of the countryside. Howard conceptualized these towns as self-contained communities surrounded by 'greenbelts'—protected agricultural land that would prevent urban sprawl and ensure residents had access to nature. The movement achieved tangible success with the construction of Letchworth and Welwyn Garden City. These towns were distinct from mere dormitories for commuters; they were designed with designated zones for industry, ensuring local employment, and communal ownership of land to prevent speculation. However, as the twentieth century progressed, the term 'garden city' was increasingly co-opted by developers to market sprawling suburban estates that lacked the self-sufficiency and communal infrastructure Howard originally championed. While the aesthetic of tree-lined streets persisted, the socio-economic core of Howard’s philosophy was often stripped away, leaving behind a diluted version of his utopian ideal. According to the passage, how did many later developments diverge from Howard's original Garden City concept?