The transformation of the urban planning system in China from a centrally-planned to transitional economy

Abstract

The dominance of ideology, state control and economic planning on urban planning and development in China is rapidly diminishing after economic reforms in 1978. With the declining role of state enterprises in the economy and investment in cities, the introduction of housing and land reform, and the opening up of Chinese cities to foreign investment, the state and centrally-planned economy have less significant role to play in influencing the development of cities. Past urban planning practices, which were legitimized by the socialist ideology of planned growth, are now fundamentally challenged. Economic reforms have triggered reorganization of the economy and society on which urban planning operates. Decentralization of decision making, market-led urban development initiatives, retreat from socialist ideology, deregulation and increase in the number of actors and conflicts of interests in land development have challenged fundamentally the practice of urban planning. The deficiency of the conventional urban planning system has been recognized. The enactment of the 1989 City Planning Act is a major milestone that tries to re-establish and formalize the urban planning system in China to meet the challenges. But, there are still many deficiencies of the urban planning system in dealing with the rapidly changing socio-economic environment. Some of these deficiencies can be traced to the legacies of past planning practice and some are deficiencies of the City Planning Act. Experiments are taking place in Chinese cities which aim to provide better guidance to urban planning and development control from a centrally-planned to transitional economy. These include urban district plans, detailed development control plans and zoning. From a broader examination of current global challenges that confront urban planning in various countries, it can be seen that the problems in China stem from the reorganization of state and market in urban planning. Urban planning in China is now at a crossroads. The urban planning system needs to undergo both institutional and philosophical reforms, such as the setting up of an urban planning commission, making the detailed development control plan statutory, setting up an independent planning appeal system, better coordination between development control and land leasing, increase in public participation, training of planners and strengthening of professionalism, in order for it to achieve its role in guiding urban development into the 21st century.