noun
housing belt development; residential zone
Refers to a planned or designated area developed primarily for housing, often used in urban planning contexts.
この地域は新しい住宅地帯として開発された。
This area was developed as a new housing belt.
住宅地 is a more common, general term for a residential area, while 住宅地帯 emphasizes a belt-like or zoned development.
Compound of 住宅 (housing) + 地帯 (zone, belt). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is conventionally associated with planned residential developments.