URBAN PLANNING IN CITIES
Ramifications That Emanate From Poor Urban Planning In Cities
By Cacisa Mgudlwa
Urban planning plays a very critical role in shaping a city ’ s social and economic growth . Urban planning is the forwardplanning process whereby cities , towns and urban areas are planned on a set of strategic goals and objectives defined in the municipal Integrated Development Plan ( IDP ). Urban planning affects our infrastructure , the delineation of land uses , the layout plan of the areas and prescribed densities of residential , commercial , and industrial zones . Without such planning , our cities quickly become inefficient and city decay occurs .
WHAT CAUSES OF POOR URBAN PLANNING ?
Poorly planned and managed cities create risks which may threaten to destroy current development gains . When a city is inadequately planned , communities and inhabitants face the challenge of poor transport systems , inadequate infrastructure , unaffordable housing , and unsafe neighbourhoods . The city and its infrastructure become unsustainable and ultimately hinder the growth of the population and economy . For example , poor maintainance of the road infrastructure can cause traffic congestion that may lead to more accidents on the road . Poor solid waste management can cause blockage to storm water and sewage networks that can lead to flooding . Lack of affordable housing close to places of work and public amenities may led to rise of land invasion people seeking for alternative accommodation . They tend to settle and build homes in unsafe ( informal ) locations without adequate provision of infrastructure and critical services .
Furthermore , poor regulation and lack of enforcement on planning laws often lead to urban development patterns such as urban sprawl . Sprawl is generally typified as haphazard development spiralling outward from urban developmental areas . Town and Regional Planners have argued that urban sprawl development patterns are creating negative impacts including
80 APRIL 2022 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine