5 Ways Urban Planning Improves Your Life

What is Urban Planning?

Put simply, urban planning is about planning human settlement in a specific area. It’s also called regional planning, town planning or city planning. This planning may include architecture and building design, transport, amenities and services, and environmental impact. As the world population continues to grow, town planning becomes more important to ensure that we can all lead happy, healthy lives without negatively impacting the environment.

A well-planned area takes into account people’s health, population growth, environmental issues, essential services and more. The area should be able to meet, if not exceed, needs of the people who live there. Obviously, this can be very difficult. So why is it worth doing?

What is it?

Town planning is required to manage the dual needs of humans and the environment to ensure that we can live happy lives without destroying the environment. It’s about creating a sustainable union between people and their surroundings.

It also allows for the area to be developed to appropriately suit the way people interact with it. This can include how and where they work and live, as well as spend recreation time. Ideally, this development is done in conjunction with sustainable approaches to preserve the existing environment, if not allow it to thrive.

Therefore, a lot of disciplines come into play, including architecture, politics, engineering, social science and more. Specialists are needed to ensure that the area is developed as well as possible.

Urban planners may also be specialists themselves, including in transport planning and place making. Some specialisations may be more relevant for certain areas in order to ensure a high-quality of living for all residents.

How it affects all of us

1.      Improved quality of life

Living in a planned community can help to ensure a good standard of life. Towns and cities naturally develop because they provide people with access to essential services and needs, like food, water and shelter. However, what may result may not be the most efficient or effective way to achieve this.

Town planning therefore aims to ensure the best quality of life for the residents there. This may mean a wider array of services is available, as well as comfortable housing and places for recreation. Ultimately, you can expect a better quality of life if you can easily access everything you need and want, without having to travel far.

2.      Improved urban economy

Successful town planning can help stimulate the local economy. This can then have flow-on effects for residents, such as support local business owners and allowing the area to grow and expand, as well as earn a reputation to draw attention from communities beyond its borders.

There are lots of ways an urban planner may try to stimulate the local economy through town planning, like ensuring commercial and residential zones are not far away from another, as well as making it easy to reach commercial zones. They may also look at ways to reduce the cost of living, like smaller residential properties that attract lower rates and taxes, as well as ensuring there is a competitive market of commercial stores.

3.      Improved infrastructure

Naturally occurring communities can often have poor infrastructure. Infrastructure is vital to ensure that a community continues to grow and residents are not disadvantage. A simple example of this is roads and public transport. If it is difficult to access or leave the community, it can be harder for residents to access all types of services they need, particularly if they are not offered within the community.

Therefore, residents may move away to more easily access these necessary services. Alternatively, they may have to go without these services and suffer a lower quality of life as a result.

4.      Improved sustainability

Environmental sustainability can be built into planned communities. This can include an emphasis on green design in all buildings, green energy solutions, and preserving and enhancing the existing environment.

Town planning can also take into account natural disasters that are common in the area, like flooding or earthquakes and prepare the area appropriately. This can reduce the amount of damage to a community and reduce the amount of time required for the community to get back to normal.

5.      Improved consistency in messaging

Many of us move to areas that represent values we hold. For instance, if you are passionate about the environment, you’re more likely to live in an area that promotes environmental strategies. This is how communities can grow and earn a reputation. A shrewd town planner will know how to plan an area to accurately convey this reputation. 

With town planning, areas and communities are prepared for a number of eventualities, as well as are sustainable and provide a better quality of life for their residents.