🌐 Economics, Social, and Physical Planning
Planning is multidimensional. To create sustainable and equitable settlements, planners focus on economic viability, social needs, and physical infrastructure.
1️⃣ Economic Planning
Definition: Economic planning in the urban context refers to the allocation and management of financial and material resources to promote balanced growth and development.
🔹 Objectives
- Ensure efficient use of resources (land, labor, capital).
- Promote industrial and commercial development.
- Reduce regional disparities.
- Support employment generation and income equality.
🔹 Key Elements
| Aspect | Focus |
|---|---|
| Land use | Commercial, industrial, agricultural zoning |
| Investment | Infrastructure, housing, utilities |
| Revenue generation | Property taxes, service charges |
| Resource management | Water, energy, materials |
🔹 Example
- Establishing an industrial estate in a city outskirts: provides jobs, attracts investment, and stimulates local economy.
2️⃣ Social Planning
Definition: Social planning ensures that human and community needs are met in the planning process. It focuses on equity, accessibility, and quality of life.
🔹 Objectives
- Address housing, health, education, and welfare.
- Promote social integration and reduce inequality.
- Support cultural and recreational activities.
🔹 Key Elements
| Aspect | Focus |
|---|---|
| Housing | Affordable and adequate accommodation |
| Health & sanitation | Clinics, hospitals, clean water |
| Education | Schools, libraries, skill centers |
| Recreation | Parks, playgrounds, community centers |
| Safety | Police stations, fire services, disaster preparedness |
🔹 Example
- Planning a residential neighborhood with schools, parks, and community centers to meet social needs of residents.
3️⃣ Physical Planning
Definition: Physical planning deals with the spatial organization of land, infrastructure, and built environment. It translates social and economic objectives into tangible, spatial layouts.
🔹 Objectives
- Ensure efficient land use and circulation.
- Provide adequate infrastructure and utilities.
- Maintain environmental sustainability.
- Enhance urban form, aesthetics, and safety.
🔹 Key Elements
| Aspect | Focus |
|---|---|
| Land-use planning | Residential, commercial, industrial zones |
| Transport | Roads, railways, footpaths, parking |
| Utilities & services | Water supply, sewage, electricity, drainage |
| Open spaces | Parks, plazas, green belts |
| Urban form | Building height, density, skyline, street pattern |
🔹 Example
- Designing a mixed-use urban sector: residential blocks, commercial spaces, roads, and parks integrated into a cohesive plan.
4️⃣ Integration of Economics, Social, and Physical Planning
| Component | Role in Planning | Interrelationship |
|---|---|---|
| Economic | Provides resources, investment, and employment | Influences affordability of housing and services |
| Social | Ensures welfare, equity, and cultural needs | Guides spatial allocation of schools, hospitals, parks |
| Physical | Organizes land, infrastructure, and buildings | Implements social and economic objectives in physical form |
✅ Key point: Effective planning requires simultaneous consideration of economic viability, social well-being, and physical layout to create functional, equitable, and sustainable environments.
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