presentation flexible planning @ sapi2014 marrit van der sschaar
TRANSCRIPT
Content
• Who am I?
• Very similar planning regulations SA and NL
• Economic crisis brought to light ‘old-fashioned’ planning
• Experiment Flexible Planning
• Vision, communication and trust is key to success
• Changing perspective makes great places in SA
Who am I?
• Human Geographer, MsC.• Y-generation, perky/bold• Worked on Social housing
and Urban planning issues @Platform31– Flexible Planning– Transformation office-
residential
• Moved to Johannesburg in December 2013
• Maboneng Precinct• Author of the blog:
Thenewneighbour.com
What is an experiment?
• Exists 30 years from Ministry of Internal and Kingdom Relations feet on the ground
• Problem? Research and test
• 3 years
• Outside law
• Monitor and evaluate
• Up scale, implement
It is not a pilot project: experiments never fail
Main similarities and differences in Planning schemes
South Africa
• National Building Regulation, Environmental laws, Safety regulations
• Zoning in Planning: regulated by government (standardised)
• Local government makes city planning
• IDP
• No obligation to renew Planning Scheme
Netherlands
• National Building Regulation, Environmental laws,
• Zoning in Planning: regulated by government (standardised)
• Local government makes city planning
• Vision before making Planning Scheme
• 10 year Planning Scheme with obligation to renew
• Holistic approach for more than 10 yeas.
Problem: Rigid Planning
• Financial crisis 2008
• Many vacant offices and need for housing
• Small entrepreneurs
• Regulations and laws from rebuilding the country after WWII
• Different lifestyles and wishes consumer
• Planning not transparent and bureaucratic
Solution: Make it easier!
• Cut back on regulations but ensure safety etc
• Makes it easier for small initiatives
• Costs less money for municipality + initiatives
• Quick reaction to change of local needs
• More transparent
Ground Breaking Experiment
• 6 municipalities: Amsterdam, Maastricht, Den Helder, Tynaarlo, Overbetuwe, Beuningen
Getting approval
• Outside the law: Experiment status
• Ministry of Internal and Kingdom Relations + Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment
• Council of State Act & Approval House of Representatives
• Municipalities and their Councils
Keys to success / Lessons learned
• It is difficult!!• Revise the planning scheme of a certain area: is it
not to restricted and old fashioned?• Communication: internally and external is very
important• Have trust• It takes time• Think about what is not desirable instead of what
you want• Raises awareness and ownership• Different places, different approach
How can it help South Africa?
• Different perspective on urban planning
• Holistic approach: break with Apartheid legacy
• Clean up legislation: new times, new requirements
• Many small entrepreneurs and initiatives: use them!
• An experiment can help stimulate innovative thinking
• Experiment status makes people take risks
• It deals with practical problems, you need
to address them
Final remarks
• Inspiring and some open doors
• Book recommendations:– Jane Jacobs: The death and life of great American
Cities (1963)
– Doug Saunders: Arrival City (2011)
• Experiments on:– RDP apartments
– Breaking down the walls
– Flexible Planning