Planning and Development: Planning History - Coursework Example

Planning and Development Introduction The origin of planning is predominantly in urban planning that arose out of the need for communities to respond to health, social and accidental crises (Butler, 2006). In the 1800, planning was a counter measure to avert oppression for the working class, control pollution, congestion, diseases, alienation among social classes and it was, meant to display status symbols in the landscape. In the 18th and 19th century, it saw romantics and activists try to balance wealth and minimize poverty. Actual planned cities are, illustrated by the remains of cities such as Harappa and Mahenjo-daro among others (Kipfer, 2000). Majority of ancient city planning was, meant to foster residential privacy, improve sanitation, allow drainage, minimize noise pollution, and enhance religious and cultural customs and practices. The city Alexandria is a focal point of ancient city planning that was, commissioned by Alexander to Hippodamus, who used grids and unique design to take the best of country and city and combined it to produce landmarks such as the Miletus. Ancient cities such as Rome designed and planned their cities to accommodate public convenience and security. The city streets and insulas were, designed to protect the city from invasions and a river flowed through to supply fresh waste, dispose wastes, allow sewerage and was a means of transport (Kipfer, 2000). The early 1900’s city layouts allowed views, uniformity in buildings and aesthetic beauty. After the Second World War, many houses in cities were, destroyed and city planners took the opportunity to plan urban cities that combine nature, order, culture and history to give way to modern urbanism. This would fall in 1970’s to be, overtaken by zoning (Kipfer, 2000). With increased environmental awareness, present urban planning is, founded on enhancing sustainable developments. The report will explicitly discuss what role planning plays in enhancing sustainable developments in contemporary society. Planning and Sustainable development With advent of industrial revolutions, urban set ups got new meanings as they were no longer defined by markets, coastlines, consolidation of varied agricultural neighborhoods, point of transportation and residence for kings and royal and residence for government employees, but as areas with potential to improve the economic, cultural, military, social values and offer aesthetic beauty. The need for planning was never greater as kings and governments needed to strategically, plan their military defense against invasions and attacks and fortify their cities. Planning for cities has evolved immensely in order to accommodate present pressing needs such as accommodating preservation of eco-systems, creating room for future development in infrastructures, improving safety and security for all, accommodating emergency response units and fully meeting the needs of the rising existing and future populations (Brebbia, et al., 2009). With the populations increasing and the land resource remaining the same, urban planning has played a role in ensuring the space is maximally, used. This is through innovative urban designs such as construction of skyscrapers, underground channels and cities, over the sky highways and bypasses, waterways that ensure consistent supply of fresh waters for urban areas, effective sewerage, waste disposal, public transit and fostering public health (Haughton & Counsell, 2004). Planning for rural and urban areas has ensured minimized migration from either, reduced crime rates, increased space for public use, increased mobility for goods, services and people, improved urban designs, eased accessibility to basic amenities and conservation of the ecosystems. Planning for urban and rural areas constitute compliance to applicable regulations, incorporation of key sectors and personnel in engineering, landscaping, urban planning architecture, ecology, public health, city planning and ensuring the needs for existing and future communities are effectively met to ensure available resources are not misused or misappropriated. Effective planning is the core foundation for enhancing competent development over time and place (Pinderhughes, 2004). Planning in sustainable development allow government agencies to deliver better homes, employment opportunities and investment opportunities for its people and at the same time, enable the concerned stakeholders safeguard the natural and cultural environments and allow effective utilization of the spaces and other resources essential for better living and performance (U.N.H.S.P. 2009). Weak plans are a fertile ground for disintegrated systems and structures, ineffective service delivery, enhanced dilapidated urban and rural set ups, increased lack of safety and security, increased rates of crime, disorderliness, unemployment, poverty and misuse of available resources such as land, finance, materials and supply of labor (Dale, et al., 1996). Sustainable development refers to creating and implementing strategies that satisfy the needs of the people currently and in the future without putting future resources at risk (Haughton & Counsell, 2004). Sustainable development is the key to opening up opportunities for all, to meeting the needs of all, to effective management and conservation of the environment, adequate use of natural resources, ensuring increased rates of economic, financial and political growth, fostering social equity and social justice, and guaranteeing employment opportunities for both skilled and non-skilled labor forces (Dale, et al., 1996). Planning in modern social, political, market and economic environments help develop sustainable communities, where systems, structures and processes that are, put into place, are able to stand the test of time and meet the needs and expectations of present and future societies (Carmona & Sieh, 2004). According to (Ukaga & Maser, 2004), planning enables effective sustainable strategies for urban and rural development through availing appropriate land for development aligned with the fiscal, social and ecological goals meant to promote the value of life and fostering sustainable economic growth. In addition, planning helps safeguards the natural and cultural environment and it mandates use of modern urban planning designs that ensures effective resource utilization (Pinderhughes, 2004). Planning enhances development that considers the needs of present and future communities in rural and urban areas by ensuring safety, sustainability of supply of basic amenities, ease in accessibility and availability of basic human essentials such as fresh air, food, medical facilities, schools and shopping malls (OECD. 2000). Achieving sustainable development in modern society requires commitment and collaboration among related private and public sectors to discuss, develop and implement plans in form of policies that take into considerations the social cultural, geopolitical and economic impact on the communities (Brebbia, et al., 2009). Planning enables government agencies to establish, focus and identify areas for development and recognizing future prospects (Olsen, 2006). The planning process plays a significant role for the planning and development stakeholders in setting up transparent, relevant, effective and conventional systems that enhances effectual development meant to ensure sustainable development infrastructures, safe and secure sustainable business environments and sustainable societies (Olsen, 2006). Planning is essential for effective governance in achieving goals and objectives and it incorporates participation of involved stakeholders inclusive of the community, which is important in enhancing patterns of sustainable developments (Carmona & Sieh, 2004). Sustainable development is fundamental for contemporary society for the critical role it plays in ensuring available resources are not, misused and misappropriated (Haughton & Counsell, 2004). By so doing, the needs, expectations, tastes, visions and preferences of the existing and future communities are, adequately and efficiently met. Incorporation of planning and sustainable development forms a basis for improving the living standards of the community members through enhanced economic, environmental and financial growth and increase in the gross domestic product (U.N.H.S.P. 2009). In addition, availability of employment opportunities and access to quality education for all hence eradicating illiteracy within states, improved health provision and ensuring future needs for future communities are, catered for in the present. Through planning, there is establishment of sustainable development infrastructures such as development and diffusion of technological solutions and progressed communication and transport infrastructures, thus, easing traffic overload, congestion and allow easy transverse and movement of people, goods and services in and out of urban areas (UNESCO. 2002). Implementation of sustainable developments through good planning ensures there is transparency when developing policies on sustainability, and therefore, the plans developed and implemented are for the good of the public than plans meant to fulfill and meet the interests of the few in government positions (Brebbia, et al., 2009). Planning allows governments in contemporary society to effectively, predict probable risks such as financial risks, resource risks and population threats that may jeopardize achievement of sustainable developments. By so doing the interests, welfare and aspirations of the community are, safeguarded (Carmona & Sieh, 2004). One cannot speak of sustainable development and fail to mention sustainability in maintenance and preservation of environmental spaces and the ecosystems. What planning does in ensuring sustainable development in environmental conservation is to, set up in place relevant, effective and reliable environmental procedures, frameworks and systems that ensures the community and the government are accountable and collaborative to safeguarding the environment (UNESCO. 2002). Planning guarantees that environment goals are not, sidelined and alienated during sustainable development process and in fact, they are, taken as a first priority (U.N.H.S.P. 2009). This ensures sustenance in fresh water supply through effective water harvesting, use of drip irrigation in semi and arid areas and water purification systems for existing and future sustainable communities, and sustainability of energy supply by using alternative energy resources. This includes use of solar energy, geothermal, biogas and wind energy among others, which reduces over reliance on oil and water generated electricity. Furthermore, planning in sustainable development for environmental sustenance ensures safe waste disposal, establishment of renewable and recyclable resources and limit emission of green house gases in homes, industries and in working environments, which helps promote occupational health and safety for the present and future communities (Ukaga & Maser, 2004). This is also helpful in minimizing the effects of global warming, air, land and water pollution. Planning is essential in assessing to what extent the policies on sustainable development have been effective (OECD. 2000). This is vital in evaluating the strengths and weakness of a particular plan on sustainability developed and implemented, fostering continuous improvement, and acts as a guide to selecting and discarding workable policies and unproductive ones respectively (Clayton, et al., 2002). This promotes satisfaction and sustainability by the community. The fundamental function planning performs in promoting sustainable development by incorporating the needs of the community and those of the government cannot be, overemphasized (OECD. 2000). This is beneficial in ensuring communities in both rural and urban setting are able to influence decision making and policy making processes of what they would like their environment and areas to look like and what basic sustainable developments is required in which areas and when (Clayton, et al., 2002). Planning helps related sectors and stakeholders to identify constraints, challenges and critical issues at early stages, hence allowing quick reforms, amendments and restructuring before the challenges escalates to unmanageable and uncontrollable levels (Pinderhughes, 2004). It should be, noted that for all the above-mentioned benefits of sustainable developments to be realized by existing and future communities, it is paramount to assess existing environments and plans. Thereby, develop and implement not only plans that will meet the needs of the community, but also, formulating and establishing plans that are agreeable by all stakeholders, realistic, relevant, appropriate, specific, measurable, achievable, that will stand the test of time and which are time bound (Haughton & Counsell, 2004). Communities are entitled to obtain quality sustainable developments that are accessible, just, clear, transparent, consistent and honors the dedication and efforts put into planning development, implementation and evaluation. For effective planning, it is vital to ensure availability of suitable settings and programs to facilitate plan implementation. Sustainable development planning enhances outcomes where the ecological, social cultural, geo-political, financial and economical goals and objectives are, attained jointly over time (UNESCO. 2002). Planning fosters global sustainability where international policies and standards are set that ensure future sustenance of the social, cultural, economic, and technological and environment elements (Olsen, 2006). Proper planning over land use propagates inclusion of quality land designs and establishment of facilities and buildings in relation to purpose and impact and not merely, to satisfy temporal community needs. Thus, planning should enhance nature and quality of resources such as land and financial resources. Sustainable development planning integrates sustainable social and environmental developments with economic developments (U.N.H.S.P. 2009). This is beneficial in providing communities with sufficient resources, safety, adequate use of environmental resources, promoting security measures and making communities access leisure activities and parks and enhance quality life for all. Planning for sustainable developments ensures a link between inclusion of the stakeholders, safeguarding and sustaining the ecosystem, practical utilization of available resources and growth of the economy (Brebbia, et al., 2009). This is important because growth in economy through effective planning impact positively on the social and ecological gains and environmental conservation planning provides a basis for generating economic and social gains. This means each aspect of development namely environmental, social and economical cannot effectively, efficiently and adequately function and perform without the other (U.N.H.S.P. 2009). Before implementation of any sustainable development plans, there is need for analysis of the strengths and weaknesses and benefits and limitations of a plan by using evidence based results, sound judgments and relying on expertise of qualified planners and policy makers. Sustainable development planning has to enhance the global, state, regional and divisional economies by reinforcing resourceful, competitive and creative commercial, social, industrial and economical sectors (Dale, et al., 1996). Planning stakeholders in government agencies should enhance urban and rural stimulation to promote the welfare of sustainable communities, enhance effective and secure establishments, improve facilities and ensure development of vibrant places in both rural and urban areas (U.N.H.S.P. 2009). A sustainable development-planning guarantee that communities are not only safe and secure, but also, they are inclusive, have reduced rates of crimes, promote quality life and health and ensure the variety needs of the community are met. Contemporary governments that seek to promote its sustainable development planning, seeks to acquire and provide adequate and quality land resource in suitable locations in a bid to satisfy the rising needs for better housing (Olsen, 2006). In addition, enhance industrial growths, suitable allocation and utilization of available resources, commercial growth, accessibility and availability of sustainable communication and transport systems, enhancing technological infrastructures, sustainable safe disposal of wastes and refuse and safeguarding against probable risks (U.N.H.S.P. 2009). According to (Carmona & Sieh, 2004), planning decisions should be made and enforced in alignment with the development strategy except when material factors show otherwise. The author mentions that planning decisions enforced on such, are essential in attaining sustainable development goals and objectives, which includes promoting safety, security, and welfare of the community, economic development, social growth and safeguarding against environmental degradation and destruction (OECD. 2000). Planning plays an important role in all aspects of business, social and political environments in helping communities counter shifting political, social, technological, legal, financial, economical, ecological and cultural forces and ensuring enhanced performance, stability and healthy living (Ukaga & Maser, 2004). Planning ensures government agencies are able to identify workable and relevant strategies, know the appropriate time to execute them and identify the right place to inject in innovation and creativity (Carmona & Sieh, 2004). Through planning, government agencies are able to understand where they have come from, where they are at the present and where they need to be in the short term and long time (Haughton & Counsell, 2004). Planning ensures they are able to formulate process vehicles, actions plans and mechanisms necessarily to move them from the present to the future without compromising quality, stability, efficiency, effectiveness, reliability, consistency, durability and sustainability. A planned for venture and system produce favorable gains and benefits in contrast with a venture and a system that has not been, effectively planned for (Pinderhughes, 2004). Planning should be, integrated in all structures and departments in public service. Planning for sustainable developments entails a sustainable strategy, the analysis process, taking action and enforcing the relevant plan (U.N.H.S.P. 2009). Planning for sustainable developments gives the planner more power and influence over the future, which is the basis for sustainability. Planning irregardless of time and location allow the policy makers to understand prior what they need to do, how they need to do it, when it is the appropriate time to do it and who is the best person to do it, which is important in propelling a community from the present to the future (Carmona & Sieh, 2004). Effective planning is, based on identifying, selecting and implementing objectives and positioning them in a considerable and consistent manner (Olsen, 2006). Conclusion Nothing succeeds in contemporary world without proper planning. Planning refers to the practice of developing and sustaining a strategy in order to lay a foundation for the action to be, taken, and establishing actions that will help in attaining anticipated goal and objective. The report has discussed the role planning plays in enhancing sustainable developments in contemporary society. Planning ensures the community is availed with adequate available resources, is, assured of safety, security, crime-free, and improved standards for living. Sustainable development planning incorporates the social, economic and environmental elements to guarantee a better today and a better future. Planning is beneficial in safeguarding the environment, promoting economic growth, realizing the goals, visions and needs of the community. For contemporary organizations, planning ensures strategic positioning thus, countering competition, enhancing the competitive edge, managing future risks, adequate allocation and use of resources and it helps boosts the growth of trade. References Brebbia, C.A., Neophytou, M., Beriatos, E., Ioannou, I., & Kungolos, A.G. (2009). Sustainable development and planning IV, Volume 2. London: WIT Press. Butler, D. (2006). Enterprise planning and development: small business start-up, survival and development. London: Butterworth-Heinemann. Carmona, M., & Sieh, L. (2004). Measuring quality in planning: managing the performance process. New Jersey: Taylor & Francis. Clayton, D.B.D., Swiderska, K., & Bass, Stephen. (2002). Stakeholder dialogues on sustainable development strategies: lessons, opportunities and developing country case studies. Rome: IIED. Dale, A., Robinson, J.B., & S.D.R.I. (1996). Achieving sustainable development: a project of the Sustainable Development Research Institute. 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