Urban planning, also known as town planning, refers to the process of designing and developing towns and cities in both social and economic aspects. This can include using open spaces, designing water supply, coming up with building construction plans, and more. However, urban planning is not as simple as it sounds. It has different branches, each of which deals with a specific area of development.
In this blog, we are going to talk about the seven branches of urban planning:
1. Strategy Planning
Strategy planning refers to developing a strategy to shape the future of urban areas. This usually involves coming up with long-term goals that would help enhance the living standards of the citizens. Some of the areas that are focused on strategic planning include:
- Providing a better life quality to individuals
- Designing spaces for people to relax
- Improving the transportation system of the city
- Providing incentive payments for landlords to invest in the area
2. Land-use Planning
There are several rules and regulations involved in using land for construction. Land-use planning deals with the efforts required to develop and approve these land-based projects. Other than this, land planning also deals with allocating land for different purposes. This includes planning how land should be used, ranging from residential to industrial sites.
3. Infrastructure Planning
This type of planning is concerned with planning the fundamental systems and facilities that serve the city and its residents. It can include planning the design and construction of hospitals, schools, community spaces, transportation stations, sewage systems, and more. Infrastructure planning usually involves detailed research, but when done properly, it can provide maximum benefit to the community.
4. Urban Renewal
This type of planning involves replanning the dysfunctional spaces in a city or town. It is usually required in cities that are facing urban decay. Redevelopment of these areas helps improve the environmental impact of cities, improve energy efficiency, and combat climate change. Successful urban revitalization usually involves feedback from the local community.
5. Master Planning
Master planning involves making the town/city more sustainable for the years to come. This can include coming up with new and improved plans or the improvement of the already existing infrastructure. At times master planning is done before the actual urban development plan begins to get a better idea about how the town or city would look in the future. This type of planning usually involves land-use planning and infrastructure planning as well.
6. Economic Development
Economic development is crucial in order for the city to prosper. This type of planning involves finding areas for economic expansion to encourage economic growth in a community. It also includes coming up with strategies that are likely to attract businesses and large firms to relocate to the area.
7. Environmental Planning
Environmental planning involves coming up with strategies that would help drive the city toward sustainable growth. It also includes tackling environmental issues such as air pollution, water pollution, and noise pollution. Environmental planning usually incorporates master and urban renewal planning as well.
