Urban
planning are classified based on scale, practical approach and theoretical approach.
Based on Scale:
1. Regional planning :
Regional planning implies a
strategic overview of how to deal with urban issues at a larger scale,
sometimes a national scale. This can include various management and development
tools such as resource
management and development. Regional planning includes and is
not limited to environmental and socio-economic planning. Regional plans and
policies have been implemented since ancient civilizations. Some of the popular
examples are regional planning of Greater London, Paris and
New York. These cities have benefited from their corresponding regional
plans.
2. City planning :
City planning is narrower than
regional planning. City planning inculcates the policies of the region and
focuses on the quality of life in a bordered city. Usually, a small city (also
known as a town) is managed by a single entity and a big city is managed by a
group of entities, commonly known as municipalities. These entities or
municipalities are further divided into departments that
oversee various developments in the city. For example, the department of waste
management supervises waste collection and disposal in a city.
3. Neighbourhood planning :
While
some cities do have neighbourhoods with boundaries, other cities call the
municipality area a neighbourhood. The dynamic nature of neighbourhoods also
makes it difficult to define them. Recently, the concept of neighbourhood
planning is taking tread, especially after COVID-19, when people
realized the importance of communities and neighbourhoods.
Based on the Practical Approach:
1.Strategic Urban Planning:
Strategic urban planning
refers to devising, analysing and recommending the best ways to develop land,
which would not only benefit the government but also the community. Parameters
such as inclusivity, sustainability and
citizens’ quality of life are considered in strategic urban planning. Different
regions around the world have different ways of strategic urban planning. While
some cities zone the areas into economic development zone, industrial zone,
special zone, etc, other cities prefer to develop comprehensive plans at the
city level. Comprehensive plans are usually developed for 10 to 20 years that
focus on community/citizen development. It is also known as socio-economic planning
in some regions.
2. Land use Planning :
Land use planning is the
most common tool used by cities for development. It is popularly known as
zoning. It is an ideal tool for new developments as well as retrofitting existing
developments. Recently, the Geographic Information System (GIS) is used to
prepare land use data for existing developments. This is not only useful to
recommend policies but also helpful in analysing the issues and challenges of
the city. Land use planning is flexible across different scales. Zones can be
allocated from regional plans up to plots. Hence, the dynamic nature of land
use planning makes it popular among planners and city developers.
3. Master Planning :
Master planning is yet another commonly used
tool for development. In the case of big cities, each municipality has their
area development plans, known as master plans which are eventually integrated
with the comprehensive city plans. Under the umbrella of master planning lies
area-specific planning as required such as urban renewal plans for the city
centre, urban rehabilitation plans for residential areas, urban regeneration
plans for old marketplaces or mixed-used areas,
urban beautification for special areas, etc. Master planning as a term is used
rather freely by architects and urban planners for individual projects. For
example, master plans are extensively used while developing a residential
block, a shopping plaza, or a project as small as a neighbourhood park. Many
times master planning is used synonymously as land use planning.
4. Infrastructure Planning:
Infrastructure includes energy, water, communication and
transportation. The facilities, technology and land required for the smooth
functioning of energy, water, communication and transportation is known as
infrastructure planning. Because these facilities are owned by the government
and the state, infrastructure planning usually is done by the local authorities
at the city level. However, privatization is a new concept in infrastructure
planning, it might pick pace in the future.
5. Environmental Planning:
Development that does not interrupt
nature and its ecosystems is the purpose of environmental planning.
Environmental planning has become a mainstream approach in the last two decades
owing to awareness of climate
change and its implications. One of the important aspects of
environmental planning in the city is evaluating the impact of urban
development on the environment and its ecosystems and restructuring the city’s
planning policies accordingly.
6. Transportation Planning :
With the “15 minutes walkable city”
idea gaining popularity, fluctuating oil prices and burning of fossil fuels
hazardously impacting the climate, transportation planning has become a common
tool for city planning. The efficiency of public transportation directly
impacts the energy efficiency of the city. Urban planners all over the world
are working on making public transportation accessible and affordable to all.
However, transportation planning includes planning efficient public
transportation and improving the existing transportation networks.
7. Landscape Planning :
Landscape planning is branched from landscape architecture, the
main difference being the scale. Landscape planners holistically formulate
policies and regulations to protect nature, its biodiversity and its ecosystems.
Based on the Theoretical Approach :
The list of theories in urban planning is endless. The theories
are inspired by time, age, movements and personal ideologies. Many urban planning theories
were formulated after the second world when the visionaries were speculating an
ideal spatial setting for a city. Some of the proposed theories were put into
practice while others are debated upon even today. However, the theories still
give insight into the idea of an inclusive and sustainable city. though not the
complete model, a part of these theoretical models have been put to practice in
regions globally.
The other popular theories that took global attention are the
sanitary movement, modernist planning, regional planning movement, rational
process approach, incrementalism, participatory planning, transactive planning,
advocacy planning and many more.