International Conference on Land Policy

The increasing international trend in favour of market based economic development strategies has significantly affected the options available to central and local governments to influence the ways in which land is transformed from rural to urban use and developed for residential and other functions. Under these conditions, it is vital that government agencies increase their understanding of the behaviour of land and property markets and the different options available to influence growth and development in ways which are consistent with macro economic and social policy objectives and the public interest. Unfortunately, the regulatory frameworks of planning standards, regulations and administrative procedures are often a barrier to the development of more efficient and equitable land markets. If the costs of conforming to official norms is higher than many people can afford, the inevitable response will be a growth in unauthorised settlements. Spatial planning policies which segregate residential, commercial and industrial activities and impose low densities also require large areas of rural land, impose high transport and environmental costs and inhibit opportunities for local economic initiatives which can help lift communities out of poverty. Development control policies are also frequently based on imported or inherited norms, rather than traditional practices and local climatic conditions. The paper will identify some of the key issues and review selected experiences with innovative approaches in spatial planning and development control. Among the issues to be covered are: • How can the spatial expansion of urban areas be constrained so as to reduce their ecological footprint and put existing urban land to the most effective use? • How can spatial planning enable low-income groups to live in, or develop, areas where opportunities for sustainable livelihoods are maximised? • On what basis should planning, building and infrastructure provision standards be formulated, disseminated and enforced? • How can development control balance the need to stimulate economic investment and protect the public