Local Planning Policies Research Articles

Supporting Sustainable Development Goals through Regulation and Maintenance Ecosystem Services

Sustainable development goals (SDGs) have a huge impact on global policies. Contextually, the concept of ecosystem services (ESs) naturally relies on the importance of integrating human activities into a framework in which ecosystems play a fundamental role in supporting upcoming societies. Introducing ESs in the process of SDG evaluation can be useful to facilitate their achievement through national and local planning policies. Nevertheless, this aspect is still poorly addressed. In the present study, an in-depth analysis has been conducted, to associate regulation and maintenance ecosystem services (ReMESs) with the SDGs set by the 2030 Agenda. Based on the available scientific literature, ReMESs have been linked to the SDGs and SDG targets. Specific attention has been paid to deepening linkages with the SDG targets that explicitly address the introduction of ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning. Finally, SDG evaluation has been further investigated, linking the SDG targets to the statistical measures proposed by the Inter-agency and Expert Group on SDGs (UN-IAEG-SDGs). This last step focused on the Italian context, according to the indicators provided by the National Institute of Statistics. The results show that ReMESs are linked to 8 out of 17 SDGs (47%). Connections decrease when considering the SDG targets (20%) and the national statistical measures (18%). It also emerges that some targets, although being connected to ReMESs, do not have the right indicators to be quantified. Ecosystem services prove to be a valid element through which modern sustainable development goals can be accomplished. This study, which highlights several gaps to be filled, wants to offer valuable help in evaluating SDGs and their implementation through ReMESs.

Planned Socio-Spatial Fragmentation: The Normalisation of Gated Communities in Two Mexican Metropolises

Mexican metropolises, like many others in Latin America, are facing complex challenges connected to rapid urbanisation and population growth. Local governments struggle to provide the necessary infrastructure, housing, security, and basic services in a highly divided—socially and spatially—urban realm. Socio-spatial fragmentation in cities like Guadalajara and Puebla has existed since their foundations in the 16th century, as planning guidelines in the <em>Laws of the Indies</em> established differentiated rules for Spaniards and indigenous people. However, in recent decades, neoliberal planning and housing policy reforms, the consolidation of the real estate market, growing crime and violence, and socioeconomic disparities have contributed to more tangible forms of planned socio-spatial fragmentation, such as gated communities. This work discusses how policies and social practices have led to the normalisation of these fortified enclaves in the metropolises of Guadalajara and Puebla, whose capital cities are preparing to celebrate their 500th anniversaries in a context of conflict, loss of shared space, insecurity, and social inequalities. The work is based on a comprehensive review of national and local planning and housing policies, a historical and cartographic analysis of neighbourhood development, and qualitative research in Puebla over a decade, along with similar work in Guadalajara in the last couple of years. The relevance of this work lies in identifying the role of planning in the production of fragmented urban structures and visualising the possibilities for more inclusive solutions.

Regulatory mechanisms to create healthier environments: planning appeals and hot food takeaways in England.

To explore existing regulatory mechanisms to restrict hot food takeaway (HFT) outlets through further understanding processes at local and national levels. The Planning Appeals Portal was utilised to identify recent HFT appeal cases across England between December 2016 and March 2020. Eight case study sites were identified using a purposive sampling technique and interviews carried out with 12 professionals involved in planning and health to explore perceptions of and including factors that may impact on the HFT appeal process. Additionally, documents applicable to each case were analysed and a survey completed by seven Local Authority (LA) health professionals. To confirm findings, interpretation meetings were conducted with participants and a wider group of planning and public health professionals, including a representative from the Planning Inspectorate. Eight case study sites were identified, and 12 interviews conducted. Participants perceived that LAs would be better able to work on HFT appeal cases if professionals had a good understanding of the planning process/the application of local planning policy and supplementary planning documents; adequate time and capacity to deal with appeals cases; access to accurate, robust, and up to date information; support and commitment from elected members and senior management; good lines of communication with local groups/communities interested in the appeal; information and resources that are accessible and easy to interpret across professional groups. Communication across professional groups appeared to be a key factor in successfully defending decisions. Understanding the impact of takeaway outlets on health and communities in the long term was also important. To create a more robust appeals case and facilitate responsiveness, professionals involved in an appeal should know where to locate current records and statistical data. The enthusiasm of staff and support from senior management/elected officials will play a significant role in driving these agendas forward.

‘Harnessing the power of the law’: a qualitative analysis of the legal determinants of health in English urban planning and recommendations for fairer and healthier decision-making

BackgroundUrban environments impact negatively on the risks of non-communicable diseases and perpetuate health inequalities. Against this, law could play a critical role, notably through implementing and securing visions of health and well-being, and evidence-based interventions.MethodsSeven teams conducted 123 interviews with 132 actors in urban planning in England. Teams had expertise in urban planning, transport, real estate, public health, public policy, administration, and management. An additional team with expertise in law analysed data from all interviews to explore how the law is perceived and used to promote health in urban planning.ResultsSix issues were identified as preventing actors from using the law to improve health in urban planning: (i) density and complexity of the law; (ii) weak and outdated regulatory standards; (iii) absence of health from legal requirements in the decision-making process; (iv) inconsistent interpretations by actors with competing interests; (v) lack of strong health evidence-based local planning policies; and (vi) inertia of the law.ConclusionsThe legal determinants of health listed in the Lancet-O’Neill Commission’s report need to be strengthened at the local level to effectively deploy law in English urban development. The findings call for strong, evidence-based local planning policies and decision-making frameworks, placing health as (one of the) core value(s) of urban planning and showing what types of development benefit health, i.e., prevent NCDs risks and reduce health inequalities on the long term. The legal capacity of local government should be strengthened to empower decision-makers in shaping urban development that promotes health for everyone.

Drawing on the personal-existential landscape identity for local planning policy: reflections from three rural areas in Estonia

This article examines from a micro-geography perspective the personal-existential landscape identity of stakeholders in relation to territorial distinctiveness. The actions and decisions of individual actors shape lived landscapes into ontologically distinctive places. These actors base these actions and decisions on their landscape values and personal-existential landscape identities of the people. Here, how locals in three rural regions in Estonia perceive their individual place attachment, and how these perceptions shaped the landscapes, is illustrated in detail. We pay attention to how their self-identity and self-realisation are connected to the history-oriented place-rootedness of these lived territories. These meanings have materialised through the restoration of village borders, self-realisation in agriculture and civil governance, or enabling a particular place-bound lifestyle. The article suggests planners consider the personal-existential landscape identities of stakeholders as a significant factor in the local planning policy making process.

Urban planners’ perspectives of public participation in planning in Nigeria

Public/community participation is globally recognized today as an integral aspect of urban planning. This is evident in various international, national, and local planning standards, regulations, and policies. This is no different in Nigeria where the various national and state level planning regulations incorporate this integral part of planning. This study investigates the extent of public participation in planning in Rivers State, Nigeria. Urban planners working in Rivers State were interviewed and academic papers on public participation in planning reviewed. This work finds that despite the mandatory legal provision for public inclusion in the planning process, it is largely not implemented in practice in the formal planning process. The lack of public participation in the planning process is a major reason for poor public support of plans which impacts successful execution. For Nigeria to achieve goals of having sustainable and vibrant urban communities, it is essential to begin implementing the planning laws which mandates public participation by meaningfully involving the public in urban planning processes. This will ensure a broader acceptance and instil a feeling of ownership of plans and processes among citizens which will enhance sustainable planning and development.

Intercity Mobility Assessment Facing the Demographic Challenge: A Survey-Based Research.

The key factor in moving towards a more sustainable travel model is based on improving mobility, especially in rural areas that share territorial dynamics with urban areas and are connected by a daily flow of inhabitants. The purpose of this article is to carry out a diagnosis of the daily mobility patterns of the inhabitants of a number of rural municipalities, with the aim of promoting sustainability and mitigating the phenomenon of territorial depopulation in future local planning policies. The research methodology is based on the use of revealed preference surveys together with accessibility analysis using GIS tools, allowing for an in-depth knowledge of the mobility patterns of the municipalities in the area under analysis. In this respect, the reference parameters in terms of territorial accessibility are determined by applying the network analysis procedure to basic public services. The results reflect the existence of an unbalanced modal split with a preponderance of private vehicle use (regardless of the destination or the reason for the journey). In addition, a very weak inter-municipal connection dynamic is observed. There is a knowledge gap in the verification of the long-term suitability of sustainable measures in rural areas implemented after the development of mobility plans (in order to assess their effectiveness).

How the Built Environment Moderates Gender Gap in Active Commuting to Schools.

This study investigates the influences of built environmental (BE) factors, network design, and sociodemographic factors on active school travel (AST). Although numerous studies have explored these relationships, this study is trying to assess this issue with a focus on gender differences. Data from a cross-sectional sample of children from first to sixth grades from 16 public primary schools exclusive for girls and boys (N = 1260) in Shiraz collected in November 2019 was used. The analysis of the data revealed that, on average, boys are more willing to walk than girls, but that the boys' tendency to walk is less elastic with respect to distance. Moreover, it is shown that street connectivity for all distance thresholds has a positive relationship with walking level, but the street network choice parameter decreases the chance of walking within an 800 metre threshold. It is demonstrated the need to take gender differences into account in local planning policies to promote AST in a developing country context.

Analysis and Prediction of Water Balance Using Dynamic Modelling to Solve Water Scarcity in Cimahi

Cimahi is one of the most populated, fast-growing cities in Indonesia. Consequently, various environmental problems appear, primarily related to the sustainability of water resources. Exploitation and pollution of water, especially groundwater, are not accompanied by a good water conservation system that ensures proper water infiltration into the soil, causing several locations in the city to experience water deficits. The city may suffer a severe water shortage if this problem is unsolved. This study aims to predict and analyze the need and availability of water in Cimahi in the next few years to determine the right solution to deal with this problem. Analysis and prediction of water availability/needs were carried out by building a dynamic model using STELLA software for simulating the conditions in the next ten years. The results of the model were combined with the applicable spatial policies to formulate possible solutions. Results showed that Cimahi will experience a water crisis starting from 2029 with a total water deficit of 8.22 million M³. The model also predicted South Cimahi District is the area with the worst conditions where the water crisis has occurred since 2022 and peaked in 2029 with water sufficiency of only 59.83%. Based on local spatial planning laws and policies, the city's government is advised to improve its catchment area to protect its water resources. The vegetation cover area surrounding the catchment area can be improved, and water absorption capacity can be increased through civil technical actions such as building absorption wells. The model results showed that a proper solution could be done by expanding 142.8 Ha of green/vegetation cover, building 1576 units of absorption wells, and increasing the PDAM supply by 100 l/second.

Unravelling the challenges for long-term planning post-disaster resettlement in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

Typhoon Washi hit the southern Philippine city of Cagayan de Oro in December 2011, causing massive destruction and displacing 40 per cent of the city’s population, 85 per cent of whom were informal settlers of highly vulnerable areas on the riverbanks. Informal settlers considered by the government as the most vulnerable residents were forcibly resettled in relocation sites in the peri-urban areas. The new settlements and houses fulfilled minimum Philippine standards for emergency housing with limited understanding of local conditions and creating gaps in the residents’ needs. In the following years, residents proactively modified their houses to fill initial housing gaps. The impacts of the residents’ self-help initiatives related to construction safety and the creation of new risks associated with low construction quality, materials and increased density in the houses are major concerns for the government which is responsible for policies to guide the urban development of these sites. This paper aims to assess the impacts of policies in the urban development of the resettlement sites for low-income disaster-affected communities. To do so, this paper analyses interviews with local government officials, analysing residents’ self-help housing construction seven years after the disaster and how these were considered in the local planning policies. Furthermore, the country’s post-disaster recovery planning changes will be analysed. The findings will provide insights into government-related challenges to guarantee the technical performance of the houses and the advances and crucial remaining governance challenges for implementing urban development policies.

Regional landscape planning for the innovation of urban planning. Municipal implementation of the city-country pact in Apulia

The adoption of the European Landscape Convention (ELC) has wrought a profound evolution in the landscape planning discipline, contributing to the integration of the landscape into planning policy. This paper explores the operative significance of including the landscape dimension in local urban planning policies. Adopting an inter-scalar approach, the research analyses the renewal of local urban planning in light of the innovations introduced by the Apulia Regional Landscape Plan (PPTR), an exemplary case of ELC implementation in Italy. One of the spatial strategies indicated in the PPTR provides valuable insights into the complex relationships between the city and the countryside. That strategy, the City-Country Pact, interacts with urban transformations and, as a result, with municipal planning. The paper utilises PPTR indicators to explore how some Apulian municipalities interpret and implement the City-Country Pact. A comparative analysis of case studies outlines the approaches and conditions by which urban planning can effectively renew itself through the ELC landscape approach, influencing plan philosophy, regulations and practices. The paper also points out the current limitations of such processes.

New frameworks and experiences in local planning: Luhansk region and the state of main instruments

Aim. Post-communist planning in Ukraine was essentially transformed over the last years with new approaches, instruments and practices changing the very idea of planning at the local level. As a result, local planning is becoming a mix of multiple usual planning instruments, new optional tools, which have appeared with imported conceptions and widespread participatory practices. This article uses the context of Luhansk region to address the question how this variety of instruments transform the planning processes at the local level in post-transitional perspective. We examine how planning and participatory instruments are developed and combined in the territorial communities of Luhansk region, what are the outcomes and how the main actors evaluate the planning process. Methodology. In this article, we consider how territorial communities use the planning and participation instruments from the standpoints of spatial transformations and place-making, using the experience of the region with a severe planning crisis in recent decades. In order to analyze the state of use of planning and participation instruments at the local level, we focus on planning documents and participatory tools in 26 territorial communities of the government controlled areas in Luhansk region (as of the end of 2021). Additional data for contextualizing empirical information on the planning process, its outcomes and particular instruments were obtained from two focus groups, which involved 35 persons, including local officials, local activists and residents from different territorial communities of Luhansk region. Results. We argue that territorial communities rely on quite diverse planning documents and participatory practices with insufficient focus on planning instruments for balancing the spatial development. Active introduction of the new public participation tools that have become available in recent years had a paradoxical effect in the region, when implementing without reliance on planning instruments. At the same time, many territorial communities are adapting various instruments to specific local context, thus contributing significantly to developing the local institutional environment, creating local success stories and strengthening democratic decision-making. We show that planning instruments, their implementations and outcomes of planning activity in most cases are perceived and evaluated differently by the main actors, however many of them are becoming increasingly aware about planning process and interested in developing the planning culture. Novelty and practical significance. This paper contributes to the discussion on the evolution of local planning instruments, the role and effectiveness of certain instruments in the post-transitional perspective. Understanding the state of affairs with local planning and participatory instruments, their interplay and ability to provide expected outcomes contributes to strengthening of the local planning policy and making it more effective.

Analytical framework for integrating climate change mitigation and adaptation in local urban planning policy

Climate change is a multidimensional observable fact and is regarded as one of the greatest challenge human societies is facing in the 21st century. Debates on climate change advocate that urban areas not only contribute to climate change by emitting huge amounts of carbon-dioxide gas into the atmosphere, but also play a vital role in addressing climate change. This research investigates whether local urban planning policies in master plans target climate change mitigation and adaptation. Accordingly, this research undertook a qualitative content analysis of the policy framework of master plans that are involved in the sample and developed climate change mitigation indexes for all the sampled master plans by assessing urban policies against climate change mitigation evaluation protocols. This research significantly contributes to the field of urban planning and public policy by developing empirical evidence that analyzes the relationship between urban planning policies and climate change mitigation and adaptation. This research supports the use of master plans as an effective tool in mitigating and adapting to climate change and has an implication for mainstreaming climate change mitigation and adaptation in urban planning.

Laser Based Navigation in Asymmetry and Complex Environment

For collision-free navigation in unstructured and cluttered environments, deep reinforcement learning (DRL) has gained extensive successes for being capable of adapting to new environments without much human effort. However, due to its asymmetry, the problems related to its lack of data efficiency and robustness remain as challenges. In this paper, we present a new laser-based navigation system for mobile robots, which combines a global planner with reinforcement learning-based local trajectory re-planning. The proposed method uses Proximal Policy Optimization to learn an efficient and robust local planning policy with asynchronous data generation and training. Extensive experiments have been presented, showing that the proposed system achieves better performance than previous methods including end-to-end DRL, and it can improve the asymmetrical performance. Our analysis show that the proposed method can efficiently avoid deadlock points and achieves a higher success rate. Moreover, we show that our system can generalize to unseen environments and obstacles with only a few shots. The model enables the warehouse to realize automatic management through intelligent sorting and handling, and it is suitable for various customized application scenarios.

Warehouse development and town planning policies in the UK

PurposeThis paper offers a review of national and local planning policies towards warehouse development within the UK.Design/methodology/approachThe first sections of the paper provide a description of the simple method of enquiry and sources of information used in the paper, outlines of the main factors driving the demand for warehousing space in the UK, and of the nature, scale and operation of modern warehouses, and a short review into the limited literature published to date, on town planning and on how it has influenced warehouse development. This is followed by an examination of some of the planning issues associated with warehouse development, two mini-case studies of how these issues are perceived and played out, a discussion of some of the issues raised in this examination and the mini-case studies.FindingsTown planning policies were traditionally seen as a restraint on the development of warehousing but while current national and local planning policies make little explicit reference to warehousing, they have often been cited in support of new warehouse development because such policies emphasise the importance of supporting economic growth and fostering the conditions in which businesses can invest and expand.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper has a number of limitations, not least that its source material is drawn from the Internet, and in that no primary data were collected from warehouse developers, warehouse operators, local planning officers or local authority councillors, and that the geographical coverage was limited.Originality/valueThe paper offers an accessible review of the current town planning issues associated with warehouse development in the UK.

In quest of implementing degrowth in local urban planning policies

ABSTRACT This paper focuses on the intersection between degrowth and urban planning and contributes to a deeper understanding and a sharper concretisation of how a strong sustainability concept such as degrowth can be taken into planning practice. Taking the Swedish municipality of Södertälje as a case, this paper uses empirical material from interviews with municipal urban planners and urban planning policy. The findings put current planning in relation to degrowth ideas, gather insights about the possible role of planning actors in a degrowth transition, and includes proposals for how planning practice can facilitate a degrowth future. This study finds that integrating a degrowth approach in planning practice means that urban planning needs to be subordinated to overarching social and environmental goals. Producing urban planning that is measured and conditioned by overarching goals would most likely imply completely different ways of planning, and goal-oriented backcasting scenarios are suggested as a tool to overcome this challenge. This paper also gathers strategies, like Södertälje’s Cultivation Strategy, that can facilitate a degrowth transition within current planning practice.

Residential Care Development in California: History and Policy

This literature review provides a framework for understanding the development of residential care in California, including state licensing, federal funding, and state and local planning policies for the development of facilities. It discusses the history, planning, and licensing of residential care as a home and community-based service in California. It examines the historic and innovative federal programs supporting assisted living in public or affordable housing, the public equivalent of residential care. Finally, it describes how the California housing crisis has prompted a new and sweeping set of state and local planning policies encouraging its development.

A circular construction evaluation framework to promote designing for disassembly and adaptability

This paper formulates a concise, free-to-use Circular Construction Evaluation Framework (CCEF) based upon international design code guidelines to assess and quantify the circularity credentials of an existing or proposed construction project. Central to the principles of circular construction is designing for disassembly and adaptability - the ability of a building's elements and connecting components to be disassembled and reused, or rearranged, after the initial design life. Analysis of modern methods of construction and the compatibility of systems with the concepts of designing for disassembly and material reuse inform the development of the CCEF. Circular construction is facilitated by simplicity, standardisation and modularity in design, sustainably-sourced materials, transparent and accessible mechanical connections and the adoption of a manufacturing-style approach towards durable and reusable standardised components and materials. The CCEF allows users such as clients, consultants, contractors, local and national planning and infrastructure policy professionals to evaluate both whole building and elemental levels at the early design and planning stages in a new-build, refurbishment or renovation project. Implementation of a scoring system is demonstrated by the evaluation of example buildings with varying usage of conventional and bio-based materials. It is shown by use of the framework that a simple standardised construction using reversible connections and previously used material elements rates highly, demonstrating a greater extent of circularity in the construction.

Pandemic Victory Gardens: Potential for local land use policies

This viewpoint examines citizen empowerment by gardening in times of crisis, namely, the adoption of the idea of Victory Gardens as a means of resistance to COVID-19. Fear of the collapse of the Canadian food chain supply at the beginning of the pandemic led to an increase in urban gardening. The government-created Victory Garden program of the Second World War urged citizens to contribute to the war effort by growing their own food. Social media use of hashtags associated with victory gardening are shown as citizen engagement or intent to engage with local gardening programs and home food production. While a scaled-down victory garden-like program might see a resurgence in urban geographies, if local planning policies and government-led community gardening efforts supported growth in this area.

Using healthy community design data to monitor and inform planning and public policy.

In Ontario, Public Health is mandated to work with municipal partners to inform and collaborate on built environment initiatives. For the Healthy Community Design (HCD) Baseline project, Public Health partnered with three communities (approximately 132,000, 29,000 and 22,000 residents, respectively). The HCD Baseline Project created a baseline of HCD indicators containing spatial data and self-reported behaviour and perception data. Tailored indicators were determined collaboratively between Public Health and municipal planning staff. Physical HCD indicator data were collected and mapped spatially, while primary data collected from a Neighbourhood Design Survey provided residents' perceptions of HCD and reported behaviour. The HCD Baseline Project produced a data monitoring system to: track progress of HCD indicators as communities grow; measure current community design to identify municipal and public health priorities, including public policy and supportive environments; and assess the impact of future HCD interventions on the community. By compiling spatial and perception data, areas of strength and opportunity guided the collaborative development of tailored recommendations for each community. Findings from the HCD Baseline Project have created a stronger position for Public Health to support local municipalities. Recommendations are guiding collaborative, evidence-informed initiatives and informing local land use planning and related supportive environment policy. Data collection will be repeated in 5, 10 and 15 years to monitor trends and impact on community design.