What is Town Planning?
We often get asked the question ‘What is Town Planning?’. Although this is a difficult question to answer, it is one that we love to consider. The first difficulty in answering the question is that various titles are used to describe the various roles a Town Planner may be expected to undertake (Urban Planner, Statutory Planner, Strategic Planner, Transport Planner, Social Planner, Environmental Planner and many more). Moreover, the tasks a person may be required to undertake within each role vary widely, both within Australia and throughout the world. Secondly, much of what a Town Planner does and the skills they posses are intangible. That is, the results of 2 years research, consultation, writing and prioritising can sometimes be shown in a single graphic. There are many different definitions of the role Town Planner. Our current favourite was written by Thomas Adams, British Architect and Pioneer of 20th Century Town Planning theory:
“Town Planning is the art of planning the physical development of urban communities with the general object of security, safe living and working conditions, providing efficient and convenient forms of circulation and advancing the general public welfare. It aims at the preservation of natural beauty as essential to healthy living conditions, and leads to the promotion of beauty in building as a by-product of sound social and economic growth”.
Written almost 100 years ago, the definition of Town Planner written by Adams focuses on the role the Town Planner had and the challenges the communities in Britain were experiencing at that time. As our urban areas have changed over time so too have the challenges and issues that Town Planning has been required to respond to. Modern Town Planning is a very technical and complicated discipline. When practiced well it is highly successful. When practiced poorly it can have serious and dramatic consequences. Despite the confusion that exists about what Town Planning actually is, much commonality can be found in the reasons given by planners and scholars to explain the importance of Town Planning and why it is necessary. We have summarised these reasons into the 7 listed below:
Planned, efficient and sustainable growth of urban areas, regions and countries;
Maintenance of good health, social cohesion and a high quality of life;
Management of the environmental impact of growth;
Economic well-being;
Development of nation states and their security; and
Management of the risks associated with development.
What do you think Town Planning is and why do you think it is important?
