Where People Live Matter: The Power Of A Strong Planning System
“At the Royal Town Planning Institute, we work hard to increase awareness of what planners can achieve when bringing communities together to create sustainable built environments and improve the health and wellbeing of citizens locally and across borders. After all, that’s what planning is all about. Creating places that people don’t just live in, but thrive in, supporting both local communities and the global biosphere.” Timothy Crawshaw MRTPI, president of Royal Town Planning Institute, tells a story of the many ways that resilient communities are rooted in innovative planning.
By Timothy Crawshaw MRTPI, president of Royal Town Planning Institute
Photo: Jon Flobrant/Unsplash
The UK government has recently released legislation recognising the power of a strong planning system to ‘level up’ the country. It’s been a long time coming, but we’re not all the way there. It’s our hope that, with greater resourcing and collaborating, the UK planning system will help communities better shape the places they live, work and enjoy.
The power of strong planning systems and the work of our members needs greater recognition. At the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), we work hard to increase awareness of what planners can achieve when bringing communities together to create sustainable built environments and improve the health and wellbeing of citizens locally and across borders.
After all, that’s what planning is all about. Creating places that people don’t just live in, but thrive in, supporting both local communities and the global biosphere.
Our members are international, spanning across 80 countries, helping share the experience and reputation of town planning in the UK and Ireland across the globe.
From Oman to Peru, RTPI members are playing central roles in shaping the future for the better of citizens, communities, places and the environment. In Kenya, RTPI members have worked with the Sustainable Urban Economic Programme (SUED) to identify and prioritise climate resilient infrastructure projects to promote economic growth, maximise economic potential and support sustainable urbanisation.
Not only are these planners helping to protect the planet, focusing on the protection of unique water and natural resources and enhanced environmental resilience, but they’re helping to improve the health and wellbeing of all citizens, and in turn, fostering resilient communities and delivering long term cost savings in terms of healthcare and avoiding the economic costs of extreme weather events.
Our international work is at the core of the Institute, in part, because the climate and biodiversity crisis isn’t only going to be solved at home. As the climate crisis deepens, environmental stress will produce not only more extreme weather events but also new slow onset hazards - such as droughts and epidemics. Planners can help ensure the future of the built environment is holistic in nature, integrated in structure, and resourced for delivery. We need to accelerate progress to a zero-carbon economy that delivers a just transition, and increase resilience to risk.
The world is currently witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record, with 82 million people forced from home due to natural disasters, conflicts and other causes. Those seeking refuge often find themselves in and around small and medium-sized cities. This is where most global urban growth is expected. These places need to not only to be safe, but accessible, and they need to provide good housing and well-planned neighbourhoods that support social and economic equity.
This is the work of a planner, to provide accessibility to amenities that support economic opportunities, healthcare services, and educational facilities. That philosophy applies anywhere in the world, whether it’s England, China, or Uganda.
But it isn’t enough to just provide access to schools and jobs, a well-planned community needs to benefit the health and wellbeing of its residents. Research has shown that a well-planned neighbourhood can support up to 59% of NHS-recommended weekly activity without a gym membership.
Not only does good design help get residents from work to home, but ensures they get there in the healthiest way possible with easy access to public transport, goods and services and safe places to walk and cycle.
Although not always credited or celebrated, planners are making a difference, globally. We’re turning wastelands into thriving urban parks and working with the communities to improve their local area and deliver affordable housing. From the economy to health and wellbeing, and the design of inclusive infrastructure and public places, the work of planners is making a difference locally and globally.
Photo: Wilhelm Gunkel/Unsplash