Convention shares planners' stories of changing places around the globe

Planning, 8 August 2008

Analysis of high murder rates in Bogota, Colombia, showed that most violent crimes were committed in the early morning after men had visited bars. As a response, the local authority instigated "women only" nights out - an initiative that saw crime plummet.

This was just one example given to more than 700 delegates at the Planning Convention of the practical measures that can be taken by planners to regenerate dangerous urban areas, courtesy of Colombian ambassador to the USA Carolina Barco Isakson. Her home town experience added a global perspective to the event's theme of Changing Places Changing World.

In the South American capital civic pride was boosted with the reclamation of a large shanty settlement, which was turned into a public outdoor leisure space. Car limitation measures, particularly car-free Sundays, were introduced in the city centre to encourage family outings on two wheels. Funding used by a succession of mayors for public transport and pedestrian and cycling routes transformed inhabitants' lives.

The many initiatives employed by city leaders were neither sophisticated nor excessively costly. Problems were analysed and common sense approaches employed to tackle them. The message was that a city with a poor living environment has been reclaimed for the whole population to enjoy.

The second case study was Johannesburg, a vast city with multiple problems, particularly of poverty and poor health. The city's executive development director Phil Harrison is a former academic and a prominent commentator on the urban form of South African cities, co-authoring the book Planning and Transformation on issues of governance, integration and sustainability.

In his current role, he is in charge of development planning and urban management in a city that was shaped by apartheid and still faces rigid social and structural inequalities. Sensitivity to the issues and creation of a realistic vision for the future were illustrated in his talk.

Looking at issues at home, David Pretty outlined progress on his review, with Joanna Killian, of the development management process. Their brief from the DCLG and the DBERR is to advise on whether planning decisions can be speeded up while ensuring that design and scheme quality remain high.

Communities and local government secretary Hazel Blears encouraged the convention audience by reaffirming the importance of planning. She stated that the planners' job is to look ahead and make communities that work, buildings that last and places where people are proud to live, work and raise a family. Blears referred to the 60th anniversary of the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 and the framework that it offered to prevent the muddle and ugliness of unfettered development while at the same time leaving room for local character, enterprise and charm. Devised during the post-war reconstruction period, it catered for a radically transformed economy.

More contemporary challenges include the need for green energy sources, global warming, a growing and ageing population, a demand for infrastructure to support unprecedented levels of international business, trade and travel.

Planning has a critical role in helping the government to rise to these challenges. Blears identified three key ways to help the system evolve: getting the right legislative framework, giving planners the skills and confidence to excel and plugging communities in to planning.

The benefit of conferences for me comes from the opportunity to look outside our daily activities and gain a broader insight into the problems and solutions that others have experienced. There can be no doubt that both Bogota and Johannesburg have a considerable uphill struggle ahead, but the shared vision and commitment of the planners in each city was demonstrated.

At home, our challenges are nowhere near as severe but planners have a major role to play in forming or improving the places where people live and work and spend their leisure time.

Janet O'Neill is RTPI president. To add contributions and suggestions for the Killian-Pretty review, please email policy@rtpi.org.uk.