Impact of Land Use Planning
The Importance of
Development Plans/
Land Use Policy for
Development Control
By Dr. Deborah Thomas, Land Use
Planning Consultant, Development
Control Authority
Prepared for the USAID/OAS Post-
Georges Disaster Mitigation Project,
Workshop for Building Inspectors,
January 15 - 26, 2001
INTRODUCTION
The topic I have been asked to address today is "The Importance of Development Plans for Development Control." It is therefore my task to put into context why development plans are important in the context of the development control function with which most of you are involved. Let me start by defining the discipline and profession of land-use planning. Land use planning refers to the process by which land is allocated between competing and sometimes conflicting uses in order to secure the rational and orderly development of land in an environmentally sound manner to ensure the creation of sustainable human settlements.
The process of land use planning consists in the main of the two twin functions of Development/Land use
Planning and Development Control. Of necessity, these two functions must be supported by relevant research and mapping which are also major components of the land use planning process. Having defined the activity let me spend some time to put land-use planning in a wider context: why do we do it and how does the need for it arise.
Land-use planning does not exist in isolation. It is necessary to view land- use planning as an integral part of the process of national growth and development. Among other things, this process seeks to identify, articulate and satisfy the basic social/human needs of a country’s population within the context of available economic/financial resources and technical knowledge.
People have needs that must be satisfied. For instance, they need housing; jobs; education; opportunities for recreation; transport; and basic services like water, electricity, clean air and health care. Social planning and policies attempt to take care of
Development Plans/
Land Use Policy for
Development Control
By Dr. Deborah Thomas, Land Use
Planning Consultant, Development
Control Authority
Prepared for the USAID/OAS Post-
Georges Disaster Mitigation Project,
Workshop for Building Inspectors,
January 15 - 26, 2001
INTRODUCTION
The topic I have been asked to address today is "The Importance of Development Plans for Development Control." It is therefore my task to put into context why development plans are important in the context of the development control function with which most of you are involved. Let me start by defining the discipline and profession of land-use planning. Land use planning refers to the process by which land is allocated between competing and sometimes conflicting uses in order to secure the rational and orderly development of land in an environmentally sound manner to ensure the creation of sustainable human settlements.
The process of land use planning consists in the main of the two twin functions of Development/Land use
Planning and Development Control. Of necessity, these two functions must be supported by relevant research and mapping which are also major components of the land use planning process. Having defined the activity let me spend some time to put land-use planning in a wider context: why do we do it and how does the need for it arise.
Land-use planning does not exist in isolation. It is necessary to view land- use planning as an integral part of the process of national growth and development. Among other things, this process seeks to identify, articulate and satisfy the basic social/human needs of a country’s population within the context of available economic/financial resources and technical knowledge.
People have needs that must be satisfied. For instance, they need housing; jobs; education; opportunities for recreation; transport; and basic services like water, electricity, clean air and health care. Social planning and policies attempt to take care of