Urban and Regional planning

Name

Affiliation

Introduction

Urbanization and industrialization have accelerated growth of towns and cities. This further stirred up with technological advancement and increase in population. This calls for proper urban and regional planning.

Urban planning is a process that deals with the control of land and design of the urban settlement and regions for the benefit of the existing population. Cities ranging from small to the largest set up with proper urban planning. This guides, and ensures order development of settlements and communities. It concerns itself with strategic thinking, research, analysis, implementation and management (Arnott et al, 2006). The origin of urban planning came into being as a result of disorder in an industrial city in mid 19th century. Planning of urban cities include urban renewal through the adaptation of planning techniques to cities that already exist and suffering from decline. Planning goals represent an ideal outcome of sustainable development (Capello et al, 2004). The increased population density in urban areas calls for urban renewal where businesses relocates, structures demolished, and people relocated. Government land utilizes if there is no space for growth of urban cities. This is a driver for economic reform that enhances communities (Southern, 2006).

Urban redesigning and renewal have contributed to long term positive effects. Housing quality has improved and reduces sprawl. In terms of economic value, it enhances economic competitiveness of a town centre, improves social and cultural amenities, and improves surveillance and safety (Capello et al, 2004).

The roles of urban planners are to shift from analyzing things technically to sustainability through integrated construction services (Southern, 2006).

Models.

Regional planner today employs rational planning model. These models view planning as a process that is technical and logical. It utilizes data that are quantitative to make a decision on how to invest resources properly in new and existing infrastructure. The process follows three different stages pattern consisting pre analysis, technical analysis and post analysis stages. These models include policies that are complex and quantitative in nature (Chigbu & Eugene, 2012). When carrying out all the stages, sustainability must be factored in so that projects that are sustainable set up. This is to guard any further changes that might occur in the future and to enhance environment that is sustainable and friendly (Arnott et al, 2006).

Sustainability.

Market forces in the development of cities contribute to sustainability. Market depends on the geographical location and in turn influences the population surrounding it. The performance of a firm in an isolated region is different from a firm in a concentrated region (McCann & Philip, 2001). When there is a cluster of industries in one region, like urban the Silicon Valley in California, creates urban areas, which have distinct, economies and dominant firms. Land being a production factor is of value in metropolitan regions. The economists examine the inter city location choices of firms and households and explain the observed pattern of land use (Fuller & Crawford, 2011).

Housing and public policy deal with urban planning and regional development. This is because housing is a specific type of need. Since housing is not moveable, when a family selects a place to reside, it is also choosing a specific place (Fuller & Crawford, 2011). Urban economists assist in analyzing the location choices of families in line with market effects of housing policies. In the analysis of housing policies, economists use market structures such as the structure of a perfect. Funding, space, and uncertainty are some of the problems encountered (McCann & Philip, 2001).

References

Arnott et al. (2006). A Companion to Urban Economics. Blackwell Publishing.

Capello, Roberta, Nijkamp, & Peter. (20s04). Urban Dynamics and Growth: Advances in Urban

Economics. Elsvier,

Chigbu, & Eugene, U. (2012). Village Renewal as an Instrument of Rural Development:

Evidence from Weyam, Germany. Community Development, 43(2): 209-224.

Fuller, R., & Crawford. (2011). Impact of Past and Future Residential HousingDevelopment

Patterns. Journal of Housing and Built Environment, 26(2): 165-183.

Southern, A. (2006). Modern-day Transport planners. Local Transport Today, 448.