In Lima, illegal land invasions are the motivating force behind urban development. In the Peruvian megalopolis, slums are not inevitable. As a unique example in the world, the (official) perspective of becoming a land owner one day is encouraging land squatters in their group takeovers. Without fear of being evicted, the invaders are busy providing real town planning, that will be respected, while still developing the economy of their neighbourhood. ( more ...)

In Lima, illegal land invasions are the motivating force behind urban development. In the Peruvian megalopolis, slums are not inevitable. As a unique example in the world, the (official) perspective of becoming a land owner one day is encouraging land squatters in their group takeovers. Without fear of being evicted, the invaders are busy providing real town planning, that will be respected, while still developing the economy of their neighbourhood. It is their very existence that is changing. In Lima, this model of growth that has been tried and tested. Anchored in Peruvian culture, the Lima model is a response to the housing crisis that is spreading throughout megalopolises worldwide. It is being copied in other countries. Feature on Manchay, a vast and temporary slum in north Lima.