Subjective Approach of Region- treating region only as an idea by

accepting the nation as one point economy and arbitrarily dividing it into
as many region as it needs
Objective Approach of Region- it is an objective reality linked with space
and defined in terms of space
Methods of delimiting a region:
Homogeneity

Nodality

Programming

Regarding one or
more combinations
of physical,
economic and
social
characteristics

Nodality or
polarization usually
around some
central urban place

Policy oriented concern

mainly with
administrative coherence
or identity between the
area being studied and
available political
institutions for
effectuating policy
decisions

Formal Region:
A geographic area which is homogenous in terms of selected geographic criteria or economic
criteria or social/ political criteria
Functional Region:
It emphasizes interdependence
Consists of functionally interrelated heterogeneous units such as cities, towns or villages
It is a nodal region since it emphasizes intra-regional spatial differentiation
Planning Region:
Based on administrative convenience
Keeble defined it as an area that is large enough to enable substantial changes in the
distribution of population and employment to take place within its boundaries, yet which is
small enough for its planning problems to be viewed as a whole
Features of Planning region by P. D. Malgavkar and B. M. Ghiara
A contiguous geographical unit
Socially and culturally cohesive people
Economic existence to be assessed from statistical records with fairly homogenous structure
Under one administrative authority
Geographical size should be big enough to exploit resources and avoid duplication

According to Friedman (1963): Regional planning as an

academic discipline is characterized by a concern with
the clarification of social objectives in the ordering of
activities in supra-urban space.

Regionalism includes (Wheeler- 2002)A focus on specific territories and spatial planning
A response to the particular problems of the postmodern metropolitan region
A holistic perspective that integrates planning specialties as well as environmental, equity and economic
A renewed emphasis on physical planning, urban design and sense of place
A more activist or normative stance on the part of planners

As per C. V. Narasimhan, Executive Director of UN Economic Commission for Asia and the far eastthe regional planning would provide the most suitable frame of reference for a
balanced integration of development projects of national significance an those based
on local initiatives

ional planning is made synonymous

with regional development policy at the national level
With a a process of decision making and design in the elaboration of investment projects at the regional
With economic development programme for sub-national area

As per Glasson (1975)- the sequential actions developed in planning are as followed
Identification of the problem
Formulation of general goals and more specific and measurable objectives related to
planning
Identification of possible constraints
Projection of the futures situation
Generation and evaluation of alternative course of action
Production of a preferred plan which in its generic form may include any policy statement or
strategy as well as a definite plan

gin and Evolution of Regional Planning:

Era

Key Figures

Characteristics

Ecological
regionalism (early
20th century)

Geddes, Howard,
Mumford, MacKaye

Concerned with problems of the

overcrowded 19th century industrial city.
Tried to balance city and countryside.
Relatively holistic, normative, and placeoriented approach

Regional science
(late 1940s to
present)

Isard, Alonzo,
Friedmann

Emphasized regional economic

development, quantitative analysis, and
social science methods

Neo-Marxist
regional economic
geography (late to
1960s present)

Harvey, Castells,
Massey, Sassen

Developed analysis of power and social

movements within the region

Public choice
regionalism
(1960s to present,
most dominant in
1980s)

Tiebout, Ostrom,
Gordon, Richardson

Analyzed region in terms of a free market

version of neo-classical economics

New Regionalism

Calthorpe, Rusk,
Downs, yaro, Hiss,

Concerned with environment and equity as

well as economic development. Focused

Year

Propounded
By

Theory

1902

Ebenzer
Howard

Garden City- a town, like a flower, or a tree,

or an animal, should aat each stage of city
growth, possess unity, symmetry [and]
completeness, and the effect of growth
should never be to destroy the unity

1915

P. Geddees

Synoptic Vision- Region as geographical,

economic, social and political entity

Lewis Mumford,
Benton Backay

Ecological Regionalism
Integration of economic development
Management of natural resources
Transportation
Large scale physical planning
Humanistic architecture and site design

193040

Howards, W.
Odum, Z.
Harry Moore

Cultural Region- Southern California

Economic region- Silicon Valley

Sir Walter
Isard

Regional Science Movement- Sub Belt vs

Snow Belt

J. Friedmann,
William

Economic Landscape

1940

Year

Propounded By

Theory

1960/70s

Watershed Planning
Ecological Region

1970s

David Harvey, M. Castell

1970/80s

Airshed Planning
M C Hnas,- Landscape Planning (Ecological Region)
patches of habitat, corridors between the edges and
interior ecosystem

1980s

Metropolitan Region
Planning- Los Angeles

Terrain of Power,
Economic, Social and
Political

MMRDA Region

chemes of Regionalisation:
Propounder

Schemes

Basis

L. D. Stamp in
1922

3 major region, 22 subregion

Homogeneity of
physiography and
structure
subdivisions based on
climate

JNL Baker in 1928

OHK Spate in
3 macro region- 1st order (34), 2nd order (74), 3rd
1954
order (225)
Chandrasekhars
Classification:
Delineation as per minimum resource potential
Prerequisite of land, power and raw material to generate economic activity
To attain a certain degree of economic viability, self sufficiency in food and employment

Micro Region: smallest unit of planning region- A watershed

New Regionalism:
Political Scientist
and Sociologists
Equity within
metropolitan region

Environmentalists
and Urban
Designers
Growth and suburban sprawl

gional Sustainability Issues:

Transport Planning
Large scale land use and growth plans
Watershed and environmental protection
Air quality planning
Regional equity planning
Regional economic development planning

Economic Analyst

Urban regions
important economic
activity in the global
economy

of Science, Geography, Economics in Planning

ontribution of 3 disciplines into Regional Planning Post 2 nd World War-

John Friedmann

Regional Economist

Walter Isard

Regional Science

David Harvey, William Bunge

Theoretical Geography

Implication for Planning Profession:

Incorporating a focus on specific places and landscapes
Understanding the post modern regional landscape
Adopting a more holistic approach to regional development
Incorporating a new emphasis on physical planning and urban design
Taking more active role in addressing regional problems