the building of houses in a continuous row along a main road: common in England between the two World Wars
ribbon development in American English
noun
housing or commercial buildings built along a stretch of road
Word origin
[1925–30]This word is first recorded in the period 1925–30. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: buildup, gimmick, hot spot, off-line, payload
Examples of 'ribbon development' in a sentence
ribbon development
The house we rented was on an unmade road on a 1930s ribbon development.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It should be remembered that our much-derided planning system was set up to protect us from the indiscriminate ribbon development sprawl of the 1930s.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
On its website, it describes how its early supporters were 'a voice against urban sprawl and ribbon development in the 1920s'.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
As you travel east through low-lying salt marshes now lacerated with motorways, the coast is hidden away behind dishevelled ribbon developments.