Planning types, processes and history

Urban Planning process

Urban planning as a process

• Cyclic as a whole and consists of a large number of cyclical processes

• Doesn’t occur in isolation

• Complex exercise at any scale

• Involvement of all stakeholders is a must

• Requires thorough research and investigations for execution

Planning in a cycle

• The cycle covers all areas of planning and brings them together into a coherent, unified process

• It is vital that our plans be practical, well focused, resilient and cost effective

• It is vital to learn from one’s mistakes in the planning and attempts must be made to avoid the mistakes in future planning

• Cyclic planning enables management of different projects upto a desired level of complexity

Planning approaches

• Mid 1800s – mid 1960s : Master planning

• Mid 1960s – early 1970s: Systems view of Planning

• Early 1970s onwards: Participatory planning

Master planning

• Comprehensive planning

• Deals with production of maps and blueprints showing development that is or will occur

• Provides a description of the development that will take place to achieve a desired future end state

• Survey-analysis-plan

• Product is a master plan

Systems view of planning

• Planning is seen as management of a system or systems

• The cities and towns are seen as systems that require management

• The planning itself is seen as a system because it is a distinct activity

• Interaction between two systems is involved: Planning system and the system that the planning system tends to control or manage

• Based on the science of cybernetics

• Product is a structure plan: written guidelines for development

• Focus is more on methods of achieving planning objectives and their alternatives

Why the shift to Cybernetic based planning

• Advancement in technology and reliance on cybernetics

• Town planning has become more complex as it consists of many disciplines now

• Quantitative revolution in 1960s

• Criticism of master planning process

Participatory planning

• Planning is not limited to certain individuals or authorities or boards

• Involves all stakeholders

• Community and public approval and advice is sought

Schematic summaries of the planning process

1. Brian McLoughlin (simplest)2. George Chadwick3. Alan Wilson

Brian Mcloughlin

Important steps

• Goal formulation:

Goals and objectives are identified. The objectives and goals are prioritized based on importance. Final targets are set.

• Forecasting, Modeling and Design:

All possible or feasible alternatives and solutions are examined. Modeling and forecasting techniques are used. Optimal alternative is chosen and detailed design is carried out of the alternative selected.

• Evaluation:

Plan is evaluated in terms of benefits. Preferences are organized. Cost-benefit analysis and public input required.

• Implementation:

Final approved plan implemented. Capital Investment is key.

• Reviewing and Updating:

Plan is not implemented to perfection. Flaws will be present. Regular monitoring and periodic reviews have to be carried out to identify shortcomings of planning. Planning strategies need to be updated accordingly.

Planning process steps

1. Problem identification

2. Determine Goals Objectives

3. Survey and data collection

4. Analysis and Synthesis

5. Policy and Plan Formation

6. Implementation of plan

7. Monitoring and evaluation

Land use planning

Definition

• It is that part of city planning that deals with type, location, intensity and amount of land development required for various functions of the city

• land use planning is used to provide an idea or proposition of how land should be used as towns and cities develop

• The result of this planning is a land use map or plan. The land on the map is colored according to nature of use. Pertinent text, graphs and tables are provided to support the map and to give a description of relevant and recommended standards

Land use classification

• Residentiary uses

• Commercial (trade) uses

• Educational uses

• Recreational uses

• Governmental and Administrative uses

• Health and welfare uses

• Religious and cultural uses

• Assembly uses

• Transportation uses

• Burial grounds

• Utilities and Municipal service facilities

Processes in city development• Concentration: Differential distribution of population and economic

activities in the city and the manner in which they are focused on the city centre

• Decentralization: Activity is located away from the centre of the city• Segregation: Population is distributed into groups according to conscious

preferences in associations. Land use is also segregated. Segregation can be voluntary or involuntary.

• Specialization: Similar to segregation but applies to activities in the economic sector

• Invasion: A process through which a new activity or social group enters into an area

• Succession: The process of invasion culminates into this process. The new activity or social group replaces the activity or social group that formerly occupied the area.

Land use models

• Mono-centric or concentric model

• Sector model

• Mutliple nuclei model

• Hybrid model

Concentric• Created by E.W. Burgess in 1925

• Assumes that transportation networks are radial.

• Based on the idea that land values are highest in the centre of a town or city.

• Distinguishes four uses: Residential, Retail, Industrial and transportation.

• Central business district (CBD) forms the centre of the city or town while other land uses appear in concentric circles around the CBD.

• Distance away from CBD is important

Sector (hoyt) model

• Created by homer hoyt

• CBD forms centre around which all other land uses are clustered.

• Factories and industries are located along transportation routes

• Direction with respect to CBD is important

• High income households are located on higher ground or along an environmental amenity

• Low income households located in low lying areas and industry basins. Transportation costs to jobs minimized for poor households.

• Particular land uses grow radially outwards (wedges) from City centre.

Multiple Nuclei model• Developed by two geographers:

C.D. Harris & E.L. Ullman in 1945

• Basic concept: cities don’t grow up around a single core but have several nodes

• Decentralization of CBD is present

• Recognizes that different activities have different accessibility requirements.

• Specialized cells of activity would develop according to the specific requirements of certain activities

Hybrid Model

• This model recognizes that urban areas are a combination of the distinctive features found in the sector, concentric and multiple nuclei model.

• Some land uses are aligned to major transport axis while other are concentrated in nuclei.