International Journal of Geography and Regional Planning

Vol. 5(1), pp. 101-107, March, 2019. © www.premierpublishers.org. ISSN: 2021-6009

Review Article

Spatial Planning for Socio-Economic Development

Pritam Kumar Singh
Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211002, India
E-mail: [email protected]; Tel: +91-9839635458

In the socio-economic planning process, the understanding of the interrelationships underlying

the two types of landscape above described is essential. Each regional context is characterized
by particularities of history, by attitudes, beliefs and values, political and legal traditions different
socio-economic patterns and concept of justice, interpretation of planning tasks and
responsibilities and different structures of governance, in other terms: by its specific
characteristics. In spatial planning, physical and social features like topography, drainage,
climate, population settlements etc. are significant elements. They are interlinked and
interdependent in such a way that they affect each other. So, change in any single element brings
change in whole pattern of the region. This present review article attempts the analysis of different
aspects of development in the region for its socio-economic development. It explains the
concepts of space, region and planning and focuses on need of planning and types of planning
locational theories of planning. The ideas of the present paper may be useful in generation of a
platform for better spatial planning to bring improvement in social well- being of the people living
in this region.

Keywords: Socio-economic development; spatial planning; locational theories; regional planning; space and region

INTRODUCTION

Planning is so much ingrained in our life that one cannot developmental schemes, information regarding condition
think of the existence of himself without thinking of of human resources of an area is prime consideration not
centuries old planned human efforts for fighting different only for determination of suitable strategy of development
calamities. Most part of our country would have been in but also an assessment of developmental process at mass
worse form if such efforts had not existed. A nation has a level.
cultural landscape which is superimposed on its natural
landscape. Although, it is the natural landscape on which Therefore, planners and planning systems need to be
the cultural patterns have been built, the details of the responsive to differences to be genuinely participatory and
former do not coincide with the details of the latter. In the to strive to create deliberative contexts that, as for as
socio-economic planning process, the understanding of possible, minimize inequalities of power and knowledge.
the interrelationships underlying the two types of Methods of planning, therefore, also emphasize the
landscape above described is essential (Misra, 1966). importance of listening to planner’s view of their worlds,
Each regional context is characterized by particularities of tracing the form of communication they use among
history, by attitudes, beliefs and values, political and legal themselves and with their publics and understanding their
traditions different socio-economic patterns and concept of ethical dilemmas. A major problem in planning for every
justice, interpretation of planning tasks and responsibilities large country is that of development of its different regions.
and different structures of governance, in other terms: by It raises question of regional allocation of resources,
its specific characteristics. The role of culture can also be location of major projects, and rates of growth of
found in programmes of international collaboration in the production, income and employment in different regions
field of spatial planning and development which have been and allied question of inter-regional movements of goods
practiced since 1990s for under developing areas (Nath et and people. Planners in every country are concerned with
al., 2009). In the modern era of planning and these questions. However, regional planning problems

Spatial Planning for Socio-Economic Development

Singh PK 102

had not until recently, received adequate attention from be regarded as flexible and may be defined in particular
planners in many countries. The national plans continued context, to be symbolized particular ways and to be
to be concerned primarily with overall growth of the formalized in a variety of spatial languages. Concept of
economy and with sector wise and project wise allocations space may be varying as considered in different aspects
of investment and resources. Regional allocations of like economic space, social space, political space etc. In
investment, rates of growths of different regions or special this paper social and economic space have been focused
measures needed to accelerate growth in depressed or much interpretation.
retarded regions received only secondary attention. One
reason for inadequate interest in regional problems is that CONCEPT OF REGION
the issue of spatial location of economic activity has not
received enough attention in economic analysis. This is In fact, it is a broad concept itself. It is considered as a unit
due mainly to the fact that space and distance introduce a in geographical study. On the basis of the elemental factor
complicating factor in economic analysis (Nath et al., of space, a region is a geographic or areal unit with certain
2009). The socio-economic development of any region limits and bounds. The unit may consist of a few villages
depends on their spatial planning. In spatial planning, or a number of countries. A region may, therefore be
physical and social features like topography, drainage, thought of as an aerial or spatial organization of varying
climate, population settlements etc. are significant dimensions. According to Joerg, "Any portion in the earth’s
elements. They are interlinked and interdependent in such surface where physical conditions are homogeneous can
a way that they affect each other. So, change in any single be considered to be a region in the geographic sense."
element brings change in whole pattern of the region. Isaiah Bowman, who was so much wedded to regional
approach in geographic analysis, summed his views as,
Thus, the regional planning consists an attempt at “We generalize real men and real places by grouping them
discovering the plans of betterment of human life; it according to likeness of function or location. To think of
visualizes industry as the servant of culture, and its chief groups is at once to be aware of the relationships between
concern is the guidance within a region of the flow of groups. A given group has like any one of its members, a
civilization. Thus, present review is focused to understand limited and particular set of conditions to face. These
the application of -peoples plan at local level and its conditions are spread over an area or region. It is the
success. Technically this is called spatial planning purpose of the geographer to study limiting or significant
categorized on the basis of purposes (Flow chart 3). Figure environmental conditions in the regional association,
1 showing interlinking among space, region, planning, basing his understanding upon physical examinations on
locational theories, spatial planning and their impact on the one hand and upon human reactions or relationships
socio-economic development. on the other.” Therefore, we can say that a region is a
small or large area which is considered for according to
need or for special purpose (Dawkins, 2003).

According to John Orchard, the optimum region for social

and economic planning should possess certain
characteristics: (a)There should be some unifying core;
(b)Its area should include all the territory tributary to the
core; (c)There should be an absence of serious conflicting
interests within the areas; and (d)The region should not be
so diversified that it will place too great a burden upon the
ability and training of the planners.

TYPES OF REGIONS

Figure 1. Interlink among space, region, planning, Regions conceived by geographers are of various types
locational theories, spatial planning and their impact ranging from a single feature region to compage,
on socio-economic development depending upon the bases or the criteria used for
delineation. If we consider physical properties of the
MEANING AND CONCEPT OF SPACE region, we get physical geographic regions, when
considered economic activities we get economic regions,
Geographically space means that which is around when pure cultural factors like language, religion are
everything that exists and which is continuous in all considered we get socio-cultural regions, when considered
direction or an empty area which is available to be used cultural and economic activities together we get
(Cambridge Advanced Learner Dictionary). Thus, it is socioeconomic regions and if all activities taken into
multi-dimensional concept and has a wide connotation account, we get a compage. All these regions are based
ranging from personal to global. The concept of space may on the concept of areal homogeneity (Flow Chart 2).

Spatial Planning for Socio-Economic Development

 Int. J. Geogr. Reg. Plan. 103

FLOW CHART 2: Schematic Diagram of Classification of Region

CONCEPT OF PLANNING

The concept of planning will continue to be used in broad

perspective. Spatial planning is broader than traditional
town and country planning focusing solely on the physical
form and design of specific development. “Planning is, not
a once for all exercise for a five-year period, it requires a
continual watch on current or incipient trends, systematic
observation of technical, economic and social data and
adjustments of programmes in the light of new
requirements” (Planning Commission, 1957).

Planning is defined as a comprehensive attempt to reform

all unsatisfactory condition by making of major economic
decisions-what and how much is to be produced; how, Figure 2. The Flow of Spatial Planning
when and where to be produced, and to whom it is to be
allocated by conscious decision of determinate authority
on the basis of a comprehensive survey of the economic TYPES OF PLANNING
system as a whole (Dickinsion, 1993). Regional planning,
in the words of MacKaye (1928), "consists in the attempt Types of planning depends upon base adopted according
at discovering the plans of the Nature for the attainment of to need of planners like on the economic base it is called
man's ends upon the earth; it visualizes industry as the economic planning, on the time base it is called long term
servant of culture, and its chief concern is the guidance planning or short time planning or one year, two year
within a region of the flow of civilization. This flow may …and so on (Flow Chart 3). In this article author has
consist of electric fluid, of lumber, of wheat, of beef, of dairy reviewed economic planning, social planning and spatial
products. It may consist of the flow of population, of planning to analyze development.
housing and living facilities." Figure 2 representing the plan
of spatial planning that show high correlation between plan IMPORTANCE OF SPATIAL PLANNING
and spatial planning. The figure describes that the
developmental control affects plan making process which Spatial planning is basically a public sector function to
affects plan implementation. The plan making process and influence the future spatial distribution of activities. It
developmental control affects each other. purposes to create a more rational territorial organization

Spatial Planning for Socio-Economic Development

Singh PK 104

FLOW CHART 3: Schematic Classification of Planning

of land uses and the linkages between them, to balance structures, evaluate the efficiency against the needs of the
demands for development with the need to protect the national and regional economies and generate structural
environment, and to achieve social and economic changes to meet the objectives of planned development
objectives. Spatial planning refers to the methods used by (Misra, 1990). Figure 3 demonstrating the factors affecting
the public sector to influence the distribution of people and spatial planning and regional development. Several factors
activities in spaces of various scales in order to improve are responsible for spatial planning and regional
the socio-economic development of economic and social development of a particular area including climatic
environments of communities. Spatial planning takes condition, technology, natural resources, economy,
place on local, regional, national and inter-national levels population and demography of that particular region.
and often results in the conception of a spatial plan.

Spatial planning tries to coordinate and improve the

impacts of other sectoral policies on land use, in order to
achieve a more even distribution of economic
development within a given territory than would otherwise
be created by market forces. Spatial planning is therefore
an important lever for promoting sustainable development
and improving the quality of life (Stead and Nadin, 2008;
Assink and Groenendijk, 2009).

SPATIAL PLANNING AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Spatial planning aims to create and maintain the qualities

of urban areas and countryside. Spatial planning attempts
to determine allocation of sectorial resources in a way that Figure 3. Factors Affecting Spatial Planning and
“productive activities and social facilities are available to all Regional Development
those who need and deserve and minimize inequalities in
incomes and welfare so that a spatial structure conducive
to planned development of the country or region is evolved Spatial planning is an interface between development
(Misra, 1990). Spatial organizations and human activities processes and spatial structures. Its logistics aim at
are determined by the nodes, the networks and the flows building multi-level spatial structures in correspondence
linking the nodes, through networks. “The efficiency of the with the optimization of economic development, social
spatial structures depends upon the location and density well-being and political aspirations of the people because
patterns of the nodes, the shape and density of the spatial structures are not inert but living entities which
networks and quantity and quality and directions of the reflect temporal transformation that a particular region has
flows." The task of spatial planning is to analyze the spatial undergone in response to the changing socio-economic
Spatial Planning for Socio-Economic Development
 Int. J. Geogr. Reg. Plan. 105

perspectives (Singh, 1986). That is why spatial that influence the society. If spatial relationships among
organization is an important problem for all economies existing activities are observed, it will be noticed that there
regardless of whether they are feudal, capitalist and is a definite pattern in the dispersal or concentration of
socialist and yet the particular form of spatial organization activities in space. The central place theory advanced by
will reflect the types of socio-economic relations Walter Christaller (1933), and modified by Losch (1954)
encountered (Sayer, 1976). Accordingly, spatial planning and Skinner (1956) attempted to provide explanation of
should be viewed as strategy for regional development at phenomenological environment and bringing out
local level and strengthening the district economy as well orderliness in spatial structure. Prior to this it was Von
as national economy as a whole. Thunen who attempted to formulate certain basic
principles to explain spatial distribution of land use way
back in 1826. Dendritic central place system described by
Johnson (1970) traces linkage for rural retail market at the
bottom to the urban primate centre at the top. The basic
element of central place theory is functional centralization,
hierarchy, regional complementarity and economic
distance.

It was felt that spatial planning will be accomplished

through the growth centre development. However, the
desired results could not be achieved one of major
problem is lack of appropriate evaluation of space in
development theory. On one hand social relations are not
investigated in depth while dealing with information of
relative space; and on the other hand, sectoral bias in
planning process deters specializing in most of the cases.
Further, as Souza (1998) quoted Kelvin Linch, "it is very
common prejudice to assume that materiality of space is
relevant when seen from the viewpoint of the quality of life
at the level of scale of home, workplace, even
neighborhood, but irrelevant at the larger scale levels like
FLOW CHART 1: Schematic Diagram of Administrative the town or region." Although spatial planning was officially
Units of Government of India. introduced in the form of pilot research project in growth
centers during late 1960s the seed of spatial planning was
DEVELOPMENT OF LOCATIONAL THEORIES OF in Community Development Programme initiated way back
SPATIAL PLANNING in 1951 with the objectives of promoting rural
development. Functional integration of development
Location theory seeks to explain the distribution of administration at block level was considered as one of the
activities in space, the aim being to identify the factors that necessary conditions to generate growth impulses. By the
influence the location of individual activities, the allocation end of third five-year plan it was evident that C.D.
of different portions of territory among different types of Programmes, although accomplished many worthy ends,
production, the dividing of a spatial market among integrated rural development, could not be achieved
producers, and the functional distribution of activities in (Fisher, 1979). Part of failure was attributed to continuance
space (Capello, 2011). Major change in planning approach of planning in sectoral lines at all level with few exception
can be traced from the third decade of development or (Sen, 1977), in appropriate data base, and inadequate
1970s when it was realized that in spite of success stories attention to spatial planning at higher level. By the end of
the thirty years of international development efforts, the 1960s it was argued that Community Development
hard core of mass poverty in the Third World countries Programme would benefit from improved understanding of
remained unencroached (Higgins, 1980). The new spatial planning at the block level and quite naturally the
approach of development planning emphasized on pilot research project in Growth Centres found its
disaggregated planning at regional and local level from the institutional base in C.D. block (Fisher, 1979). It is also
below, participation of largest population itself both in realized that all facilities, to deliver social and economic
planning and execution of development projects and services, could not be located everywhere given the
improved style of development. This shift was that regional present resource availabilities. Most facilities could be
planning started occupying the centre of stage only in located very efficiently and equitably. After completion of
concept, but not in practice. Integrated area development exploratory studies of two blocks by the Council of Social
programme postulated during this period refers to Development and Food Foundation, the official history of
functional and spatial integration. Functional integration
envisages integration of all economic and social activities
Spatial Planning for Socio-Economic Development
Singh PK 106

growth centre project in India started in 1960 with formal CONCLUSION

approval of the Planning Commission as part of the fourth
five-year plan under the direction of Ministry of Agriculture The existing review article efforts to analyze the different
(Roy, 1972; Fisher, 1979). In the mid-seventies Sunder aspects of development in the region for its socio-
ban Development Board was set up to identify and economic development. It elucidates the concepts of
promote service centres in 15 blocks of Southern 24 space, region and planning and emphases on need of
Parganas district of West Bengal. Comprehensive Area planning and types of planning locational theories of
Development Programme (CADP) was also introduced in planning. Spatial planning is a strategy for developmental
a number of states. However, the experiment could not change and also attentions towards prosperous and
produce anticipated results. healthy society. People’s participation is a key
characteristic of spatial planning. This is an attempt of
NECESSITY OF SPATIAL PLANNING bottom-up approach of developmental process. As
aforesaid statements explain that the spatial planning
Strategies for sustainable development are currently being needs for successful socio-economic development. Thus,
worked out in many different contexts. These include the planning of the region needs to be developed through
various local, regional, national and international spatial planning strategies.
geographical territories and various sectors of society. In
this review, more forcefully emphasizing the role and
potential of spatial planning in achieving some beneficial AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
objectives. Spatial planning can be used as an instrument
to co-ordinate socio-economic development by preventing PKS wrote the article prepared and assembled the Figures
environmental problems and simultaneously protecting the and critically organized and revised the manuscript by
natural environment and the cultural environment .The incorporating significant reports.
challenge for planning is to ensure the efficient use of
limited land resources and to contribute to balanced use of
resources ,including natural and landscape resources, soil ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
,water air .Since Spatial planning has a long term
perspective, it can also include important principles of PKS is grateful to the Department of Geography, Faculty
development. Spatial planning is used to create solutions of Arts, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India and
that are bound to specific geographical territories. Socio- University Grant Commission, New Delhi, for providing
economic development cannot solely be achieved at the financial assistance in the form of a Research Fellowship.
local level because spatial planning enables various
territorial dimensions to be considered: local, regional,
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Spatial Planning for Socio-Economic Development