Urban planning is the technical and political process of designing and regulating land use, infrastructure and the built environment to create sustainable, functional and equitable communities. It involves organising different land uses, including residential, commercial, industrial, educational and recreational areas, as well as transportation networks, parks and gardens, to improve the comfort and quality of life of residents.
Urban planning includes:
Land use and zoning: Determining where residential, commercial and industrial areas, blue infrastructure and green spaces should be located.
Transportation: Designing transport networks, roads, pedestrian walkways and cycling paths to improve mobility.
Environmental sustainability: Managing natural resources, protecting the environment and preparing for climate change.
Economic and social development: Supporting local economies while promoting access to affordable housing, public health services and other essential facilities.
Major steps in the urban planning process
Data collection and analysis: Studying the land, soil conditions, existing buildings, population size and traffic patterns.
Vision and objectives: Setting long-term goals for urban growth, housing needs, infrastructure and economic development.
Land use and zoning: Dividing an area into designated zones, such as residential, commercial, industrial and green spaces. Urban planners may draw on models such as sociologist Ernest Burgess’s Concentric Zone Model and economist Homer Hoyt’s Sector Model to understand urban development patterns.
Transportation planning: Designing efficient roads, public transport networks and pedestrian walkways.
Infrastructure design: Planning essential utilities and services, including water supply, electricity, drainage, sanitation and waste management.
Environmental protection: Incorporating flood-control measures, parks, green spaces and sustainability standards into development plans.
Public consultation: Gathering feedback from local communities and other stakeholders to ensure that development plans reflect their needs and priorities.
Approval and regulation: Obtaining the necessary approvals and establishing building codes, development regulations and zoning laws.
Implementation and monitoring: Providing the planned infrastructure and monitoring development to ensure that it follows the approved plan.
Ways urban planning can reduce poverty
Locating affordable housing near employment centres: By locating affordable housing close to workplaces and city centres, urban planners can improve access to employment while reducing commuting costs for low-income residents. Long commutes can consume a significant portion of household earnings, leaving less money for food, education, healthcare and other essential needs.
Improving infrastructure and services: Upgrading water supply, sanitation, waste management, drainage and electricity in low-income areas can prevent diseases, reduce household expenses and improve living conditions. The Lagos Metropolitan Development Project and its subsequent development and governance programme provide examples of initiatives that targeted underserved communities for neighbourhood infrastructure improvements.
Enhancing public transportation: Efficient and affordable public transportation reduces commuting costs and connects disadvantaged neighbourhoods to commercial centres and job markets. For example, the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system demonstrates how investment in mass transit can ease the financial burden on commuters. According to the World Bank, the Lagos Urban Transport Project 2 helped reduce public transport costs by about 30 percent for approximately 200,000 daily passengers between 2010 and 2017. This illustrates the potential benefits of transport planning that prioritises affordability and accessibility.
Securing land tenure: Providing appropriate legal protection for landholders and upgrading informal settlements can give low-income residents greater security, protect them against arbitrary eviction and encourage investment in housing improvements. Such measures should also include safeguards against displacement during redevelopment.
Makoko, a waterfront community in Lagos, illustrates the importance of this approach. Many residents depend on fishing, fish processing and small-scale trading, yet inadequate infrastructure and recurring flooding threaten their homes and livelihoods. Urban improvement initiatives must therefore address basic services while taking residents’ economic activities and housing needs into account.
Involving local communities: Allowing residents of informal settlements to participate in decisions about local roads, water points, sanitation and housing layouts helps ensure that development projects reflect their economic circumstances and priorities. Community participation can also improve accountability and reduce the risk of implementing projects that disrupt established livelihoods.
Integrating economic activities: Zoning mixed-use areas allows compatible residential and commercial activities to coexist. This can provide opportunities for small businesses, street vendors, artisans and home-based enterprises to operate closer to residential areas. Providing suitable markets, workshops and trading spaces can support local employment and stimulate economic activity.
International experience also offers useful lessons. In MedellÃn, Colombia, urban improvement initiatives have combined neighbourhood development with efforts to connect disadvantaged communities to the wider city. The experience illustrates the importance of linking transport, public infrastructure and local development to improve access to services and economic opportunities.
Urban planning and sustainable development
Urban planning can help integrate low-income residents into the wider social and economic life of their communities. By improving access to housing, transportation, infrastructure and employment opportunities, it can contribute to poverty reduction.
Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) seeks to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, while Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG 15) focuses on protecting, restoring and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
Effective urban planning can support these goals by improving living conditions, promoting inclusive development and protecting the environment. However, achieving these objectives requires effective implementation, sustained investment and meaningful participation by local communities.
Ultimately, urban planning should not be viewed solely as a process of organising land and constructing infrastructure. It should also be recognised as a tool for reducing poverty, improving livelihoods and ensuring that the benefits of urban development are accessible to people across different income groups.Â
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Olufemi Adedamola Oyedele, MPhil. in Construction Management, managing director/CEO, Fame Oyster & Co. Nigeria, is an expert in real estate investment, a registered estate surveyor and valuer, and an experienced construction project manager. He can be reached on +2348137564200 (text only) or femoyede@gmail.com
