Celebrating World Town Planning Day: Empowering People, Transforming Places

Today is World Town Planning Day, and as an urban planning social enterprise, we believe in the power of a place-based, people-centred and citizen-led approach.

During the last 10 years, we have witnessed the power of putting people at the heart of solutions—empowering citizens to lead the charge in 8 provinces and 33 partner?communities across South Africa – working under the banner of the Nedbank-funded Proud of my Town programme.

Government and big businesses can provide infrastructure, services, business support, capital, and more, but ultimately, communities must take up the call for their development and growth. One way to achieve continuous and incremental change that builds community resilience is by mobilising and equipping that group of people with the most to lose – and the most to gain by taking action and creating sustainable partnerships and innovation – and we believe an urban planning approach is key to do this.

Urban planning involves various interrelated components and systems that serve as the foundation for designing and managing towns, cities, and communities. These systems can be leveraged to promote inclusive, resilient, and vibrant communities when applying a place-based, people-centred, and citizen-led strategy. Here are the main components and how they can be used for this purpose:

?Land use planning governs how land is developed, regulated, and utilised, balancing residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and recreational uses within a community.

• Target underdeveloped township business areas and promote mixed-use developments that blend residential, commercial, and recreational spaces to strengthen active, vibrant communities.
• Create regulations that respond to the community's unique needs and support rapid, compatible and safe development.
• Use community input to determine how specific areas should be developed?and encourage participatory planning and citizen-led decision-making.
• Design and create places where people naturally gather, fostering community interaction, economic activity, and cultural expression.

Ensure transportation systems connect neighbourhoods equitably, improving all residents' access to essential services, jobs, and recreation.

?Public spaces include parks, community centres, and other shared spaces that foster community interaction, recreation, and cultural expression.

• Through place-making initiatives, engage community members in designing and activating public spaces that reflect local culture, needs, and values.
• Integrate art installations, events, and cultural programming co-created by residents to foster a sense of community identity and pride.
• Ensure public spaces are accessible and inclusive, considering universal design principles to accommodate people of all abilities and backgrounds.

Housing systems should address the availability, affordability, and quality of housing within a community while providing essential services and amenities.

• Collaborate with citizens to identify housing needs, such as affordable housing, multi-generational living, or temporary shelters, and tailor development accordingly.
• Promote community land trusts, cooperative housing models, or public-private partnerships to foster long-term, community-driven housing solutions.
• Encourage infill development, revitalisation of underutilised properties, and preservation of neighbourhood character with direct community input.

Our approach supports Economic planning and development that stimulates local economies, creates jobs, and supports businesses and entrepreneurs.

• Facilitate citizen-led economic initiatives, such as cooperatives, local markets, and hubs, to support entrepreneurship and local job creation.
• Prioritise investments and incentives for businesses that align with community needs and values, such as supporting locally owned enterprises.
• Use participatory budgeting approaches, where citizens help determine how public funds for economic development are allocated.
• Promote collective saving mechanisms to fund local investments and community asset-building.
• ?Promote cultural tourism, local crafts, and events that boost economic opportunities while preserving cultural heritage.

Communities' development should focus on Sustainable resource use, climate change adaptation, energy efficiency, waste management, and natural resource conservation.

• Involve residents in developing and implementing sustainability initiatives, such as community gardens, renewable energy projects, and waste reduction campaigns.
• Create green infrastructure projects (e.g., rain gardens, urban forests) planned, built, and maintained with community participation.
• Educate and empower citizens to adopt sustainable behaviours and advocate for eco-friendly policies.
• Develop strategies that enhance the community's ability to withstand and adapt to economic, social, and environmental changes, including climate risks.

Infrastructure includes essential services like water supply, sewage, electricity, telecommunications, and waste management systems.

• Involve residents in identifying areas of critical need, such as water access or broadband connectivity, and co-create solutions.
• Design decentralised or community-driven infrastructure projects, such as solar microgrids or local water recycling programs, that reflect community needs and reduce environmental impact.
• Encourage waste reduction, recycling, and sustainable consumption and production patterns to create long-lasting, environmentally friendly impacts.

?Urban planning should account for access to healthcare, education, social welfare, public safety, and Community wellness services.

• Collaborate with residents to identify gaps in healthcare, social services, or education and create targeted interventions (e.g., clinics and community centres).
• Co-design wellness programs and activities that promote physical, mental, and social health within the community.
• Ensure that social services are culturally responsive and address the needs of all community segments, including vulnerable populations.
• Collaborate with all public safety stakeholders to design, implement, and sustain solutions considering local conditions.

Lastly, it is essential that citizens are involved in Governance processes?and?that?transparency and accountability are maintained.

• Engage citizens and stakeholders through workshops, focus groups, public forums, and surveys to understand needs, aspirations, and concerns.
• Use digital platforms to facilitate citizen input and enhance transparency in the decision-making process.
• Implement community-led monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the impact of urban planning initiatives and refine strategies as needed.
• Form partnerships with various stakeholders, including local governments, non-profits, businesses, academic institutions, and civic organisations.

By holistically leveraging the abovementioned components, urban planning can support place-based, people-centred, and citizen-led strategies that reflect community values, address local needs, and foster sustainable development. Involving citizens at every step ensures that solutions are meaningful, effective, and widely supported, leading to thriving, resilient communities?and ensuring that urban development is rooted in the needs and aspirations of the people it serves, creating resilient, inclusive, and thriving areas.