Planning and Building a City for the Future

There can be few periods in recent history where changes are taking place at a breathtaking pace.  The impacts are very clear in terms of differences in economic opportunities; social and community changes; and with respect to the environment. The devastating effects of the Tsunami or the flooding in New Orleans, for example, raise important questions about how we manage the use of the planet both now and for future generations.

At the global level, shifts in economic power and manufacturing to the Far East. There are huge pressures on the environment in terms of the development of the Rain Forest, or the rapid increase in car ownership, with the associated pollution.  The news is full of debates about how to provide the energy we all crave. More nuclear power stations? Or should it be wind-farms? Yet, often individuals and communities shout. ‘Not in My Back Yard’ – the so-called NIMBY effect.

Whatever we choose, the development has to go somewhere. In some way, development impacts on the land resource. And land is fixed and finite. Who helps to make the decisions about how we use and develop that precious resource?

At the European level, technology and communications are changing the links and patterns of development between the member states and between the capital cities. London is now part of a wider European network of cities rather than simply the seat of political power in Britain.  Yet, social and economic opportunities are not distributed evenly. If individuals and communities cannot satisfy their needs and aspirations locally, they tend to migrate. Who manages the impacts on the villages, towns and cities where people live, work, and relax?

At the more local level, changes are very evident in terms of where economic investment and job opportunities are being created. This is bound up with where transport, educational and leisure facilities are provided. Decisions about investing in one area and not in another can lead to social disadvantage.  Without increasing opportunities, communities can beexcluded from an appropriate quality of life.  In the UK, for example, there continues to be a ‘north-south’ divide where greater opportunities exist in the south east.  This is not simply about higher salaries – the differences have important implications for health and life expectancy.

What can we do about it?  Well, we could ignore these divisions and geographical conflicts.  We could simply look to the benefits of change and pretend the costs do not affect us. We could work around it by living in ‘gated communities’, and tolerating ‘no go’ areas. On the other hand, we can do something concrete. We can attempt to reconcile these different outcomes. We can seek to provide greater economic opportunity, to achieve more stable communities, and to balance our use of the environment. Here town and regional planning plays a very important role in all our lives. Planning is intended to ensure that our general societal needs in terms of housing, factories, offices, schools, hospitals, roads and motorways, and all the modern developments coming forward, such as wind-farms, telecommunications masts and retailing complexes do so in an appropriate way.

Town and regional planning s to ensure that all the different interests associated with such developments are taken into account, and seeks to ‘join up’ the various policy areas that make up the ‘web of life’. Ultimately, it seeks to optimise the use and development of land in a sustainable way that will ensure that land and resources may be enjoyed by future generations. This means ensuring that we are sensitive to the diversity of life on earth – in terms of the fauna and flora. It also means being sensitive to the how we celebrate our built and natural heritage. This means understanding the fabric of our cities, thinking about our archaeological inheritance, as well as being aware of the erosion of our coastline.

Town and regional planning finds itself at the forefront of current political ideas. It promotes interdisciplinary thinking and inter-professional working as part of the modernisation of government. Planning is ultimately about people and places. Hence, it is concerned with promoting development that meets the needs of a diversity of cultures.  It seeks to provide for the needs of young people, disabled people, families and neighbourhoods, and, increasingly, for an ageing society. Planning for people and places requires skilled professionals with strong communication skills, a political and environmental awareness. It demands individuals who have a commitment to social justice and sustainable development. This demands visionary thinking and strong leadership skills, and a good understanding of what makes modern societies work.

Visit the School of Town and Regional Planning website to find out more, or why not come to an Open Day at the University of Dundee

http://www.trp.dundee.ac.uk