THE UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

Name: Farai Jeketa

Reg Number R164824E
Program: Rural and Urban Planning
Course: Regional Planning and development
Lecturer: Mr Dohwe

QUESTION:

React on the aobservation and belief that “the regional scale is the most optimal for planning
inorder to adress spatial development and growth challenges”

DUE DATE: 17 APRIL 2019

ANSWER

Public policy may be appropriately formulated and implemented for areas which are larger than
local government authorities (LGAs) but smaller than the State or Nation. Such areas are usually
called regions. Integrating a much wider areas for overall growth of “region” is the purpose
served by regional planning, Planning for integration of rural area and the overall balanced
development of the region. Fulfilling the needs of a backward region and providing higher order
services for relatively developed areas. Strategies are formulated carefully to keep the goods and
resources available to all the places as per their requirements A regional approach may be
relevant in three situations. Firstly in the management of land-use conflicts or the evolution of
urban settlements in their relationship to one another. Second, in the delivery of programs by
State or National agencies. Third, in the promotion of economic development There will often be
situations in which these three areas of regional action should be linked. This assignment
attempts to clarify how regional scale planning is the most optimal for solving the spatial
development and growth challenges and the disadvantages associated with it.

Regional Planning encompasses even larger area when compared to city planning; Number of
cities might be covered when considering a region but rural area remains at the core for which
planning is to be done. Along with rural areas many lower level towns in addition to the villages
witnessing transformation to towns also adds up to area for which regional plans are made.
Regional plans can cut across the boundaries of different states regional planning can help to
conceive a broadly based balance among development projects and programs initiated at the
different levels of government by eliminating conflicts in requirements for land and location, or
conflicts claims on scarce resources, or conflicts in the pace and sequence of implementation. It
can also facilitate the choice of “best” (optimal, most convenient or least opposed) alternative
and promote the execution of the adopted course of action. Thus, the region emerges as the
physical, economic, social and institutional environment in which development process can react
upon each other productively and further both the development of “local economies” and
“national development”.

Regional scale planning is the optimal for solving development and growth challenges, firstly
regional planning helps in reducing the conflicts and competition for resources between cities in
a region. Developing small towns or satellite towns helps in relieving the stress from higher
order town thus increasing efficiency. Clark, Jennifer, and Susan Christopherson. 2009. A lot of
cities or small towns don’t grow due to resources being concentrated on developing the large
cities and thus small development being made on th small town, thus through regional scale
development there is development of such small satellite towns and this resulting in development
and growth taking place as a whole.
Regional planning ensures that there is participation and consultation. The public is consulted
and other local authorities are consulted and allowed to participate in the planning process since
the regional scale encompasses a number of jurisdictions. Participation is key to integrated urban
district development. Formal participation processes, for urban land use planning, have proved
valuable Daniels, Tom. 2001.. Lack of participation has hindered development and growth in
Zimbabwe Since decision-makers in city governments and municipal utilities are often poorly
prepared to cope with the challenges of worsening urban poverty, urban growth often results in
sprawling settlements, where the poor live in precarious conditions. These areas are an
expression of a lack of economic, social and political participation. Thus through participation,
there will be communication within the urban planners and the public as a whole thus solving the
development problems since information will be available.

Regional planning ensures that there is equity planning, Equity planning is a framework in which
urban planners working within government use their research, analytical, and organizing skills to
influence opinion, mobilize underrepresented constituencies, and advance and perhaps
implement policies and programs that redistribute public and private resources to the poor and
working class. This fuels growth and solves the problems of national growth challenges.

Also regional scale planning results in the allocation of funds for different activities and different
areas can also be taken up by the regional planning board/authority. Government intervention
such as implementing a new scheme or policy for a region can also boost the growth perspectives
and aide the policy prepared by regional board.

When regional scale planning takes place it means a certain area is developed and activities
spread over a larger piece of land. This leads to reduced disparities which help directly and
indirectly by reducing forced migration, reducing trip lengths, providing better and more job
opportunities in nearby areas, having the required services instead of letting them emerging
randomly. A special economic zone can be established to support the growth of a region and
attract investments.

Regional planning leads to decentralization which fuels growth and development.

Decentralization refers to a process of assigning the public functions and responsibilities of
planning and implementation from central government to sub-district level in order to carry out
specific tasks at the local level. This brings about efficiency and it fuels growth and development
since decentralized power relieves pressure on the top officials thus giving them enough time to
do other tasks and think of other things that can solve the planning challenges.

However, the regional plan must fit into the national frame work and must be viewed in
perspective against national needs and national policies Chester, Charles. 2006. The setting up of
a Central Government Department to deal, inter alia, with physical planning is therefore of great
significance to the conduct of purely regional planning for two reasons. Regional planning
authorities are able to feed information on the potentialities of regions which they have studied,
into the Department of Planning. This information can assist the Department to form a picture of
national potentialities and formulate a national development program with a system of priorities,
which can then be fed back to the regions.

Also Most of the regional planning actions are focused on urban regions which in itself is
centered around mother cities and its hinterland. Physical planning of regions have taken out
people from its ambit of concern. Regional planning should have inclusive strategies, resource
sharing abilities and bridge the urban -rural divide. The regional resources and its utilization (not
exploitation) must be addressed by focusing on the natural resources. It is not prudent to being
more urban centered which looking for expansion beyond cities physical limits. The
administration of the regions which largely historical and geographical basis encompasses the
security of resources for future. Most of the regions in developing countries have exploited the
regions for its resources, and left to fend for themselves while looking for good opportunity
somewhere else. The cultural imprints and nature of region must be respected not only for
protection of local culture but also to reduce the regional conflict. The national character of
planning somewhat disregard the regional aspiration which can be addressed by more
participatory and community based planning.
In conclusion the regional scale is the optimal inorder to address the development and growth
challenges, it helps in the efficient management of land-use conflicts and this help distribute
resources within a larger area in a region this ensuring that both the poor and the rich benefits.

References

Barth, Thomas. 2001. The role of ad hoc regional alliances in managing growth. Public Works
Management Policy 6(2):114–125.
Brooks, Evelyn C., and Lee M. Brooks. 1933. Five years of planning literature. Social Forces
11(3):430–465.

Chester, Charles. 2006. Conservation across borders: Biodiversity in an

interdependent world. Washington, DC: Island Press.

Clark, Jennifer, and Susan Christopherson. 2009. Integrating investment and equity: A critical
regionalist agenda for a progressive regionalism. Journal of Planning Education
and Research 28(3):341–354.

Condon, Patrick, and Jackie Teed, eds. 2006. Sustainability by design: A vision for
a region of 4 million. Vancouver, BC: Design Centre for Sustainability,
University of British Columbia.

Daniels, Tom. 2001. Smart growth: A new American approach to regional planning. Planning
Practice and Research 16(3/4):271–279.

Foster, Kathryn A., and William R. Barnes. 2009. Reframing regional governance for research
and practice. Paper presented at Annual Conference of Association of Collegiate Schools of
Planning, Crystal City, VA. Friedmann, John, and Clyde Weaver. 1979. Territory and
function: The evolution of regional planning. Berkeley: