As the first industrialized country, the United Kingdom also leads others in planning satellite cities. In the 1940s London built eight such cities, each 50 kilometers from the heart of the capital.

The aims were that people could live and work locally, be independent and self-sufficient. Based on building residential communities, industrial projects could also have priority due to settled employment.

Although these cities did not disperse the crowded population of London, they prevented further population inflow.

The building of London's satellites was led by development enterprises, whose major leaders were chosen by government. But once development began, government was allowed little further opportunity to intervene in specific links.