INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

Structure of Presentation Housing Demand in South Africa Turn-around: Comprehensive Plan (BNG) Towards Establishment of Human Settlements Planning Unit –Rationale –Vision & Mission –Outputs –Sectoral Alignment –Central Planning Approach –The New City: Some Concluding Thoughts

Housing Demand In last 8 years: –Population growth: 2.1% –Increase in absolute household no’s: 30% –Increase in urban population growth i.t.o.: Urbanisation; & Natural growth. –By end of 2008, 50% of world population will be living in cities.

Housing Demand Since 1994, Gov’t commitment to create liveable & equitable cities. Key elements included: –Compact urban form; –Higher densities; –Mixed & Integrated land use; Despite the above, inefficiencies/ inequalities of the past continue to linger.

Turn-around Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Sustainable Human Settlements –Housing: an instrument for creation of sustainable human settlements. –To move beyond provision of basic shelter towards achieving broader vision of efficient cities & towns. –Towards non-racial, equitable society.

Human Settlements Planning RATIONALE Comprehensive Plan places emphasis on demand responsiveness as opposed to supply-driven state-assisted housing. Recap of some critiques: –Non-alignment of financial streams of housing and social facilities and infrastructure; –Lack of comprehensive planning within IDPs; –Lack of meaningful Housing Development Plans; that should form basis for accurate targeting and budget allocations. Hence the need for proper planning.

Human Settlements Planning VISION The vision of the HSPU is to promote the achievement of a non-racial, integrated society through the management and implementation of rigorous human settlement development planning frameworks. MISSION The mission of the HSPU is to manage human settlement development planning processes and support the implementation of human settlement and housing development planning frameworks.

Human Settlements Planning In the enhancement of its value proposition the HSPU will provide the following products and services: –Render support to Provincial Housing Departments (PHDs) on multi-year housing development planning. –Render support to Municipalities in Housing Chapters of Municipal IDPs. –Review multi-year housing development plans of PHDs. –Develop National Housing Development Plan. –Maintain existing- and develop new Housing Planning Instruments. –Promote alignment of national sectoral planning.

Human Settlements Planning Current Conjuncture: SECTORAL ALIGNMENT Lack of integration between housing delivery and public services & amenities. Existing spatial fabric has shown little change. Housing for low-income urban dwellers is still provided on the periphery of urban centres. In response - a single initiative to consolidate grants for “whole living environments.

Human Settlements Planning Current Conjuncture: CENTRAL PLANNING APPROACH Development of sustainable human settlements must be undertaken within a broader spatial restructuring framework. In practice, however, spatial planning is spread between a number of Departments. Greater coordination and alignment of various planning instruments and economic policies lies at the heart of sustainable human settlements. Requires more than mere co-ordination between departments, but instead suggests the need to develop a single overarching planning authority and/or instrument to provide macro-level guidance.

Human Settlements Planning Current Conjuncture: CENTRAL PLANNING APPROACH Inclusion of the poor into the urban fabric. Access by the poor to the benefits of urban living. Regulatory Frameworks, as a means toward reshaping our cities.

Human Settlements Planning Current Conjuncture: National Spatial Development Perspective National Urban Strategy Development Facilitation Act Land Use Mgt Bill Breaking New Ground

Human Settlements Planning So, how far have we come with reshaping our cities to reflect the new epoch we have purported to have moved towards?