Global Planners Network Networking Event

Spatial Planning and the Right to the City

An RTPI Perspective

RTPI: International Focus

• Founded in 1914• 1000+ members live & work in 90

countries• Network with planners worldwide• Certify planning schools• Major contribution to urban

research

New Vision for Planning

6 core themes:– Spatial: all places have unique needs &

characteristics – Integrative: in terms of knowledge, objectives,

sectors and actions– Sustainable: looks at the short, medium and long

term issues– Inclusive: recognises the wide range of people

involved– Value-driven: concerned with identifying,

understanding and mediating conflicting sets of values

– Action-oriented: concerned with outcomes.

2009 International Strategic Review

• FOCUS

concentrate on the things we are good at, which are: - Advocacy, - Building capacity and

- Communicating and networking.

• MISSION

to promote spatial planning internationally & develop its capacity to secure territorial cohesion and sustainable human settlements in all parts of the world.

New Vision for Planning

Operates at all scales:– National, – regional, – cities, – towns, – villages and – neighbourhoods.

PLANNING SUSTAINABLE CITIESGLOBAL REPORT ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS 2009

The Global Report argues that future urban planning must take place within an understanding of the factors shaping 21st-century cities including:

• Environmental• Demographic• Economic• Spatial Inequality• Urban Sprawl• Democratisation and the

rights of ordinary people

Successful spatial planning is inclusive...

Spatial planning must:– Respect difference, – Include all in the process of change;– Reduce social and spatial inequalities. Not

create new ones;– Negotiated through processes that are

• transparent, and • subject to scrutiny and arbitration;

– Result in a shared commitment to act.

GPN Self Diagnostic Tool• Self-diagnostic – respondents position themselves

rather than measure against external norms• Assess planning capacity to respond to challenges• Identify priorities • Evidence base for world wide planning capacity • Identify gaps – geographically and functionally• Helps consider resource priorities

• 1500 responses from 100+ countries

Q2: ‘In your country what are the main challenges that require planning skills?’

• Open ended question• This was their first key

thoughts• 61 % of all respondents

identified issues of Poverty & Inequality

• Poverty & Inequality are big issues for planners

How can planning make a difference?

Respondents identify four core priorities:1. Balanced Settlements

2. Improving Quality of Life

3. Harmonious Environment

4. Stakeholder Engagement

Balanced Settlements for addressing poverty and inequality

“preventing spatially institutionalised poverty and inequality”

• Utilising space to encourage- local employment opportunities- service opportunities - viable transport & mobility- affordable housing- capital investment to poorer areas

• Equitable distribution of - resources- burdens - benefits

Engagement & Inclusion for addressing poverty and inequality

• decision making about land use affects people unequally

• planning processes using mediation can offer a structured way to negotiate interests

• balance competing, economic, social and environmental objectives in a transparent way

Perceived barriers to planning

• Respondents think planners should be doing more

• Big differences between what planning could do and what it is doing.

What holds planning back?

1. Context • Institutional• Lack of support by Government and wider

society

2. Capacity• Skills• Information• Resources

Contact the GPNContact the GPNwww.globalplannersnetwork.org

Contact the RTPIContact the RTPIwww.rtpi.org.uk/international

Self assessment of the capacity for Self assessment of the capacity for planningplanning

http://tinyurl.com/2gbffk

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