The Case for Urban Planning

Among the most significant challenges of the 21st century is the rapid growth of cities. And, over the last century, our planet has become profoundly urban.?What we have learned is that?urbanisation?can be a?catalyst of growth rather than just a by-product of it. Urbanisation can,?therefore,?be used as a powerful lever for transforming lives and livelihoods.?

History has shown us that urbanisation leads to development, and the examples are there for all to see. A striking example of this is London, which has reinvented its urban landscape over the past three decades to transform itself into the preeminent global city. A recent long-form article in the National Geographic explains that “the city is home to more than 8.8 million residents and is set to grow further. It is on track to add two million more residents by 2050. All that growth fed a construction boom that is redrawing London’s historic skyline and includes several of the largest regeneration projects in Europe. More than 500 new tall buildings are in the pipeline across Greater London.”?

The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan?

Like London,?Dubai has?also?always been at the forefront of city planning, design and economics of scale. At every crucial juncture of the city’s growth, the city’s wise leadership has envisioned a long-term plan that has brought the country to where it is today. Aligned with the UAE’s vision for the next 50 years, HH Sheikh Mohammed recently unveiled the ‘Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan’, which aims to transform the emirate into the world’s leading lifestyle, leisure, tourism and investment destination. ?

The plan points to a new and better balance between Dubai’s economic, environmental, and social goals, enhancing the city’s image as the world’s best place to live, work, and visit. Making progress on sustainable and inclusive growth through the strategy will necessitate a productive transformation of the city’s infrastructure, urban transit system, environmental and cultural assets. Recreating public spaces and introducing design and planning principles into Dubai’s urban transformation will also help create a more sustainable and competitive future for the city.?

Sustainability at heart?

Sustainability is at the core of the urban planning philosophy?—?cities strive to balance economic development and the environment, commerce and society, and the essential relationship between the past and the future.?Excellence in architecture, organised land use, well-designed streets, and open spaces are essential components in designing a vibrant city.?

Housing, employment, accessibility and safety are vital concerns for urban dwellers. Therefore, the right policies can make a difference in improving people’s quality of living.?But at the same time, all desired developments cannot be implemented simultaneously. This is where urban planning comes into effect, as it allows cities to plan out?changes?based on necessity and available resources. It further ensures that the projects are not duplicated or diverge from?their?original intent.??

The?Vauban district of Freiburg in southern Germany?is one of?the world’s best examples?of sustainable urban living.?The district was planned around green transportation, and through?a?highly connected, efficient, green transportation network with everything?within walking distance.?Furthermore, all buildings in the district meets the?minimum low energy consumption standard.?The community has a unique ecological sewage system and renewable energy production is encouraged with tax credits from the federal government and subsidies from the regional utility.?All this has resulted in energy savings, reduction of CO2 levels, saving of mineral resources and more?for the city.?

Green economy?

According to traditional wisdom, urbanisation degrades the climate. This viewpoint has driven many developed countries to restrict rural-urban migration and urbanisation. However, this viewpoint is erroneous. There are some reasons why, if well implemented, urbanisation can be beneficial to the climate.?

For starters, urbanisation increases productivity due to?favourable?externalities and economies of scale. According to a report by the Asian Development Bank, Asian urban productivity exceeds rural productivity by more than 5.5 times. With urbanisation, the same production can be achieved with less resources.?Because of urbanisation, more residents now have access to environmentally friendly infrastructure and utilities at reasonable rates.?

Furthermore, urbanisation promotes creativity, including the creation of green technology. Long term, the sustainability of the green economy can be determined by environmentally friendly facilities, vehicles, and services.?Higher?living standards associated with urbanisation?also?provide residents with better access to healthier food, jobs, accommodation, and health care. Revenue generated by urban development also funds infrastructure improvements, reducing pollution and enhancing public health.?

But more important than ever, urbanisation will help develop the nation as it often generates more returns just from its own merits. It is a powerful tool to create economic opportunities and facilitate economic development.?If we can take it one step further towards liveability and attractiveness,?then it can help?generate even more significant benefits.?This will, in turn, contribute to the nation’s development by replicating successful urban plans across cities.?

Urban planning post-COVID?

The?pandemic?has?presented many?challenges,?but?one optimistic outcome is that?it?could enhance urban planning.?While cities are not going to reflect significant deviations from what was planned before the outbreak, they can include steps to minimise the next big pandemic or other challenges. ?

In the short term,?urban planning will entail incorporating?additional flexibility, keeping in mind?the?options for temporary reuse of space and design to maximise cleanliness, as people have become more aware of?social?distancing?and health?concerns. In the long term, we can expect an integrated design?that will include decentralisation of core services, improved public transport, increased green cover and a shift towards medium density communities.??

Experts in planning need to draw on their experiences and insight learned during the pandemic. This can, in turn, help mould future success and prevent costly and inconvenient errors. Investigating which cities fared the best during the pandemic and researching the causes for their performance could result in healthier and more?liveable?cities.?

COVID-19 trends have reinforced the central place of digital connectivity, and cybersecurity, and the functions of residential areas where people live and work. They further emphasise the importance of cities reimagining their overarching vision and development. New urban planning principles that integrate disaster management with long-term, sustainable gains for the community and the society can be anticipated.?Long-term planning responses?are also?based on efficiency, resilience, and sustainability concepts?and they?must ensure?that?inclusive and accessible open spaces endure.?

Cities have always bounced back and shown the ability to adapt in the aftermath of disasters.?As they?are integral to a nation’s future,?cities?can rebound faster if the right decisions are made?at the right time.?