REGIONAL PLANNING

REGIONAL PLANNING
Regional planning deals with the efficient placement of land use activities, infrastructure and settlement growth across a larger area of land than an individual city or town.

OVERVIEW
Regions require various land uses; protection of farm land, cities, industrial space, transportation hubs and infrastructure, military bases and wilderness. Regional planning is the science of efficient placement of infrastructure and zoning for the sustainable growth of a region. Advocates for regional planning promote the approach because it can address region-wide environmental , social and economic issues which may require a regional focus.

REGION
A region in planning terms can be administrative or at least partially functional and is likely to include a network of settlements and character areas.

PRINCIPLES OF REGIONAL PLANNING 1. Resist development in flood plains or along

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earthquake faults. These areas may be utilised as parks or improved farmland. Designate transportation corridors using hubs and considering major new infrastructure. Consider designating essential nuisance land uses locations, including waste disposal. Set regional level policy and zoning which encourages a mix of housing values and communities. Consider building codes , zoning laws and policies that encourage the best use of the land.

GROWTH CENTRES

THE GROWTH CENTRE CONCEPT

The growth centre concept in India in the early fifties was based on Nariewala Commission which recommended planning for rural-urban communities with a small town at the centre and a number of villages at the periphery.

The economic relationship between the town and the surrounding villages was suggested to be one of mutual dependence. The villages would produce raw materials and food for the town. In return , the town will process these materials and send them back to the villages in finished form.

The available theories and methods for identifying growth centers of various orders and their hinterland could be utilized for planning of our rural areas. One that may suit our purpose very well is the Central Place Theory.
The main theme of Central Place Theory and its methods; 1. A Central place ( usually a city or town depending on the specific area or region under study) which provides functions and services to its tributary area, is located at the center of minimum aggregate travel providing minimum cost to the customers and maximum profit to

2. There is a hierarchy of such central places . The higher order

places provide functions which lower order places do not have. But the reverse is not true. Higher order places provide functions in addition to what the lower order places have. 3. Functions which are unique to higher order places have a wider range ( geographical area of influence) than those which are common to both higher and lower order places.

4. It follows that higher order places, because they have such wider ranging functions, command a larger tributary area than lower order places. In other words their degree of centrality is higher than that of lower order places.
5. The higher order places are fewer in number and more widely spaced than lower order places. 6. Higher order places not only have their unique functions but have a larger number of establishments proving lower order places.

The nesting pattern or latticing of lower order places within such a command area is determined by three principles:

1.Marketing
2.Traffic 3.Administrative

The use of growth centre concept in development planning

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The growth centre concept strikes a balance between consolidation and decentralization of resources.

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Decentralization of employment.
The growth centers will provide distribution centers for agricultural inputs, processing and marketing outlets for the products & manufacturing & servicing facilities for machinery & equipments.

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