DEVELOPING INTERFACE THEORIES

1. UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL AND URBAN PLANNING
FUNDAMENTALS OF PLANNING THEORY
• 2017
DEVELOPMENT PLANNING INTERFACE: A CHANGING THEORY

2. Introduction
• Theory is an organised system of accepted knowledge that applies in
a variety of circumstances to explain specific set of phenomenon.
• What is development?
• Development is a desirable phenomenon- transition from one stage
to another, growth, progress or positive change, multidimensional
process.
• Definitions by Conyers and Hill , Omuta, Boudeville (1966)

3. Cont’d
• Definition of Development varies with disciplines
• Economists focus on GPD and per capita income growth – 5%
or 10% etc then there is development
• Sociologists may look at changes behavioural patterns,
practices and the adoption of new perspectives – Apply to our
social scene – the adoption of an urban livelihood, dress code
etc. as measures of development – progression
• Political scientist – talks about the capacity building of people.

4. Dimensions of Development
• Development can be taken in two dimensions
- as a state of being – developed or under developed
-process of developing or becoming developed
• Planning in the contexts of the above can be
• 1) a means to achieve development – development as the goal
for planning
• 2) planning development as a process focusing on the role of
planning in guiding development

5. Theories of Development
• History of Development
• Concept of Development
• Came out of WW II
• Inception of this concept was shaped and spurred by 3 factors
• Need to reconstruct Europe after the war- Marshal Plan.
• Need to spread American domination against Communism.
• Need to assist the newly independent countries which wanted to
promote their economies and enhance their political independence.

6. CONT’D
• Following the conception of the notion of Development, scholars
and practitioners have developed theoretical
frameworks(paradigms) which sought to systematically guide
this process.
• Since the 1950s development has proceeded through stages
being guided by different theoretical frameworks with
subsequent theories and policies which over time were
superseded by others.
• There are several development theories that have emerged and
but the common ones are related to broad development periods
: the 1950s/1960s, the 1970s/1980s 1990s/early 2000s.

7. Cont’d
• These Development Theories are
1. Theory of modernization 1950-1960s
2. Theory of dependency 1960s-1970s
3. Basic Needs Approach (BNA) 1970-1980s
4. Structural Adjustment Programmes
5. Theory of world-systems
6. Theory of globalization

8. Analysis of Development Theories
• These theories can be analysed in terms of their
• Assumptions
• Key Features
• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• Applicability and Impact

9. Importance of Theories Development
• The theories help planners in understanding the lenses used to view
development issues at any given period
• Development Instruments are fashioned based on these theories.
• The study of development theories guides planners to think
systematically on trying to understand certain issues in development.
• The richness in the researches made to come up with these theories
helps planners to understand issues as widely as they apply in the
global society.
• A wide knowledge about the theories benefits planners as they will
understand things from different standpoints since theories are
formulated from different context and set ups. The explanation and
criticism on the background and applicability of development theories
is important on them as they develop their development agenda.

10. Spatial Planning Theories and Concepts
• Spatial relating to space
• Role of Spatial Planning
• Organising development in space. Reshaping the environment
• The development could be
• the carrying out in, on, over or under the land of any operations .
• Objectives of Spatial Planning
• conserving and improving the physical environment and in particular
promoting health, safety, order, amenity, convenience and general
welfare, as well as efficiency and economy in the process of
development and the improvement of communications
• provide for the protection of urban and rural amenities and the
preservation of buildings and trees and generally to regulate the
appearance of the townscape and landscape.

11. • Urban Form
• Townscape and landscape
• Handy (1986) Urban Form “is a composite of characteristics
related to land use pattern , transportation system and urban
design”.
• Lynch (1981) UF- “is the spatial pattern of the large , inert
permanent physical objects in the city”
• Form is as a result of aggregations of more less repetitive
elements in space eg street patterns , block size and form street
design , typical lot configuration, layout of parks public spaces
street furniture.

12. Why Urban Form
• UF can be a source of environmental problems in cities.
• Water, Soil & Air Pollution, Noise, Disrupting ecosystems,
greenhouses gases and climate change, traffic congestion.
• Therefore there is need to change the design of the UF in order
to create sustainable human settlements that will function in a
more constructive way .
• How do change Urban Form?

13. Urban Design
• Contemporary urban design according to Barnet 2003 began in
the 1960s.
• Is an instrument for shaping the environment (creating an
acceptable urban form) . Its ultimate aim is to create an
sustainable and liveable environment.
• Kelvin Lynch is an authority in Urban Design.

14. Concepts of Sustainable Urban Form
Seven interrelated concepts and themes of UF
i. Compactness-continuity and connectivity
ii. Sustainable Transport- minimise external costs from travelling
iii. Density- high density and integrated land use
iv. Mixed Land Uses- decrease in travel distances
v. Diversity- similarity with the mixed land uses.
vi. Passive Solar Design- reduce demand for artificial energy
and lighting
vii. Greening-green urbanism, effect on drainage

15. Urban Design Movements
• The field of urban design has gone through several stages in an
attempt to generate the best Urban Form. These stages are
called urban design movements and are based on certain
principles
• Examples Park Movement, City Beautiful Movement, Garden
City and New Town Movements to the latest Just City,
Sustainable City, New Urban Design Theory and Urban Design
For an Urban Century.

16. CONCLUSION
• It has been noted that all these numerous design
movements/theories have only addressed some elements of
urban design hence they have not created sustainable urban
forms.
• Therefore the challenge to come up with holistic urban design
theory that that create a Sustainable Urban Form

17. What Should The Planner Know
• The section looked at the development-planning interface that is
the relationship between development and planning.
• The section looked at the notion of development and how it has
evolved guided by various theories.
• The conception of Development has broadened from the narrow
perspective of economic growth to include a wide range of
issues that affect human life and well being-social, political,
economic, political and environmental issues.

18. • What is the role of planning in development?
• Planning is a vehicle for facilitating development.
• The areas of focus for planning are
• Land Use Planning
• Transport
• Location
• Planning has to influence the above aspects in order to achieve
sustainable development.

19. Implications of the above
Planning is taking place in a rapidly changing world where the issues of
development are becoming complex.
Planning approach has to change in responds to the broadening
concept of development.
Modern Planning is applied to dealing with a wide range of
development problems and issues that are affecting society.
Planning theory and practice have to be adapted to the changing
world.
In terms of training planners need to acquire new knowledge and skills
Modern Planning needs to conform to the current human needs.

20. CONT’D
• Therefore this means there is need to revisit the existing
planning policies or formulate new planning policies in line with
the current development needs of the society.
• Modern Planning is a social and political process in which many
actors representing many different interests , participate.
• Therefore the approach to planning should be participatory or
bottom up.