Urban Planning and Air Quality Objectives of Urban Planning Policy Historical Approach to Urban Planning

Abstract

The role of urban planning is to manage the spatial organization of cities for efficient allocation of urban infrastructure and land use. Depending on how it is applied, urban planning can improve air quality in the long run by strategic location of polluting sources and exposed population, and encouraging a city structure that would minimize pollution emissions and build-up. Unfortunately, urban regulations in South Asia have historically contributed to misallocation of land use and growth of urban shapes that are not necessarily conducive to economic development or air quality improvement. Taking careful account of market forces and allowing demand driven solutions rather than the current administrative allocation of resources could bring considerable benefits, if closely coupled with other sector policies—most notably in transport. T he shape of a city and distribution pattern of land use affect air quality and its health impact. The urban shape determines locations of emission sources and where people spend their time, as well as emission levels by influencing the amount of polluting activities. This briefing note focuses on the potential impact of different spatial structures on air quality, and options for improving air quality through modifying the urban spatial structure in urban planning. Urban planning has four primary objectives: 1. to promote efficient provision of urban infrastructure and allocation of land use, thereby contributing to economic growth, 2. to manage spatial extension while minimizing infrastructure costs, 3. to maintain or improve the quality of the urban environment (including the quality of the housing stock), and 4. to preserve the natural environment immediately outside the urban area. Different strategies adopted to reach each objective may work against one another. For example, facilitating economic growth (objective 1) might entail clearing more land for development, thereby clashing with objective 4. The problem of potentially inconsistent objectives of urban planning is compounded by the fact that planners can influence the urban shape only indirectly, through land use regulations, primary infrastructure investments, and taxation. To be effective, the use of these instruments should be harmonized to achieve the same overall objectives. In practice, the fragmentation of jurisdictional responsibility and the difficulties in changing or repealing regulations in force makes it difficult to implement an efficient policy. Historically, urban planning in South Asia has tended to stress compliance with the legal requirement to update a city's physical development plan at specified time intervals without much consideration of the infrastructure cost implications—notably …