SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

•Sustainable development first emerged as a mainstream concept with

the publication of the United Nations World Commission on Environment
and Development (WCED) report entitled Our Common Future in 1987.

•It was also called as the Brundtland Report

•The most common used definition of sustainable development is “development

which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generation to meet their own needs” (WCED, 1987)

Within this statement, there are three concepts was highlighted:

• Development – idea of physical or quantitative expansion
• Needs- Issue of distribution of resources
•Future generation- the principles of intergenerational equity
The multiple goals of sustainable development as applied to cities

Meeting the needs of the present......

Economic needs
Includes access to an adequate livelihood or productive assets; also economic
security when unemployed, ill, disable or otherwise unable to secure a livelihood.

Social, cultural and health needs

Includes a shelter which is healthy, safe, affordable and secure, within a
neighbourhood with provision for piped water, sanitation, drainage, transport,
health care, education and child development. Also, a home, workplace and living
environment protected from environmental hazards, including chemical pollution.
It also relates to the people’s needs; the choice and control including homes and
neighbourhoods which they value and where their social and cultural priorities are
met.
Political needs
Includes freedom to participate in national and local politics and in decisions
regarding management and development of one’s home and neighbourhood-within
a broader framework which ensures respect for civil and political rights and the
implementation of environmental legislation.

.....without compromising the ability for future generations to meet their own
needs

Minimising use of waste of non-renewable resources

Includes minimising the substituting renewable sources where feasible. Also,
minimising waste of scarce mineral resources (reduce, use, re-use, recycle and
reclaim)
There are also cultural, historical and natural assets within cities that are
irreplaceable and thus non-renewable for instance, historical district and parks and
natural landscapes which provide space for play, recreation and access to nature.
The aspects of sustainable development can viewed from two approaches;
environmental consideration or resource protection approach and social and
community needs approach (Counsell, 1998)

The environmental consideration approach emphasises resource protection which

uses the concept of capacity. For instance, planting trees in cities not only justified
for their aesthetic value but also for reducing cooling costs, absorbing pollutants,
wind-breaks and noise barriers.

While social and community needs approach views sustainable development as a

meaning to achieve equity and social justice. For example, the introduction of
urban agricultural concept can be integrated into provision of open space and the
reuse of waste waters for improving low-income groups in the cities.
There is a wide range of policy areas which should be taken into account in pursuing
the objective of sustainable development in development plans.

According to Counsell (1998); the policy areas can be grouped into eight sub-
categories; natural resources; land use/transportation strategy; energy; pollution; waste
management; wild life and country-side; economic and social well-being and built
environment.

Natural resources
•Safeguarding resources
•Minimizing use on non-renewables
•Efficient use of renewables

Land use/transportation strategy

•Sustainable location/urban form
•Relationship of development to public transport
•Mixed land use policies
•Priority to public transport
•Priority to walking and cycling
Energy
•Improving efficiency of buildings
•Design standards for new development
•Encouragement of renewable resources

Pollution Control
•Reducing effects of pollution (air, water, land, noise)
•Identify and treat contaminated land

Waste Management
•Encouraging reduction, re-use recycling and recovery
•Ensuring responsible disposal

Wildlife and country side

•Total protection of nationally designated sites and area
•Designation and protection of local sites
•Site enhancement
•Management of access and recreation
Economic and Social Well-being
•Sustaining local communities
•Improving awareness and involvement
•Supporting local economic activity
•Mitigation measures for industrial development
•Environmentally sensitive tourism and recreation

Built Environment
•Concentrating facilities in existing centres
•Renewal of inner city areas
•Re-use of redundant and vacant sites
•Protection and enhancement of urban green space
•Conservation of building and areas of cultural and historic interest
•Restrict car use

In planning the capacity concept refers to:

i) Environment capacity, the ability of the environment to accommodate development

without damage
ii) Urban capacity, the ability existing urban areas to accommodate development
Land Use Planning and Development

The system of land use planning in our country consists of a framework of

development plans which form the basis on which applications for development are
determined. The development plans which consist of structure and local plans are
prepared by local authorities to identify type and locations of the land use for
development.

The development process involves three stages:

• Development pressures and prospects
•Development feasibility
•Implementation

The duration of the development process varies from few months to decades. The
main participants are land owners, developers, professionals, builders, financiers and
government.
 LAND OWNER
Pre-development of
owner of land
CLIENT
Eventual DEVELOPER
owner/renter of Assembles sites,
completed organises finance
development ADVISOR and marketing
Planners,
Surveyors,
PUBLIC SECTOR Architects, etc
Regulates FINANCIER
development Provides funding for
provides the development
infrastructure BUILDER
Carries out
construction work

Source : Kivell (1993)

 SUSTAINABLE PLANNING, DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT

PROTECT

RESTORE

REUSE

BUILD

CONSERVE

SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

[REGION-COMMUNITIES-NEIGHBORHOODS-SITES-BUILDING]
BENEFITS OF SUSTAINABLE SITE PLANNING DESIGN

SOCIETY

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE LIVING
SENSE OF COMMUNITY
ATTRACTIVE SURROUNDINGS
SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS
PROXIMITY TO PUBLIC SERVICES
MINIMIZES NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON SURROUNDING
PROPERTIES
PROTECTS CULTURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES
BENEFITS OF SUSTAINABLE SITE PLANNING DESIGN

ECONOMY
ATTRACTS INVESTMENT
ATTRACTS VISITORS AND TOURISTS
ADDS PROPERTY VALUE
CREATES MARKETABLE “EXPERIENCES’
LESS TIME SPENT COMMUTING
USES LAND EFFICIENTLY
QUICKER REAL ESTATE SALES AND RENTALS IN TIGHT MARKETS

ENVIRONMENT
CONSERVES ENERGY
PROTECTS BIODIVERSITY
REDUCES AIR AND WATER POLLUTION, AND URAN HEAT ISLANDS
PROTECTS NATURAL PROCESSES AND SENSITIVE NATURAL AREAS