Preamble

“Planning..works to improve the welfare of people and their communities by creating

more convenient, equitable, healthful, efficient, and attractive places for present and future
generations..good planning helps create communities that offer better choices for where
and how people live. Planning helps community members envision the direction their
community grow and will help them find the right balance of new development and
essential services, protection of the environment and innovative change.”
(American Planning Association, 2006)

Planning is concerned with taking an objective and rational view of future conditions, assessing what
society desires its destiny to be, forecasting the amount of change, estimating the degree of control required, and
formulating a policy to take account of this destiny, change and control. As planning and people getting more
complex, and making more turbulence, Sandercock in Thompson (2007) reasserted that old ways of planning
should be replaced with a more normative, open, democratic, flexible and responsive style that is sensitive to
cultural difference, particularly urgent and daunting task.

This assignment would be discussing on challenges faced by planners for producing best plan for the
society and what skills planners should have and develop in synchronize with the betterment of the quality of life
for the community in the whole world. However, all challenges inevitably are emerging at the edge where they are
correlated to each other; therefore certain point might be seen as it belongs to other type of challenge. One side
of challenge chained with another side of challenge and that is the reason why comprehensive planning must get
into place. Though, this assignment would try to crystallize each challenge on its own.

Q1: Based on your literature review, discuss at least five major issues or challenges facing planners
in this modern era of development.

i. Diversification

Park in Howe (2003) wrote city was a mosaic of social worlds, a laboratory admirably suited to the study of
human behavior. This is essentially because identity and cultural differences are becoming more important in
modern societies. In the Australia for instance, the issue of cultural difference is posed much more sharply in
seeking to understand and respond to the different values implicit in indigenous much of what people value and
see as progress sets up a conflict that so far have been unable to resolve. However, the inequalities that exist in
Australia are not only about identity differences. The social and economic changes in Australia have encouraged
people to think that values of social justice and social responsibility are less important than a commitment to
greater efficiency and the accumulation of wealth. Dealing with inequality has become an after-thought rather
than an essential between the economic and the social. Lack of planning has results in social dislocation and
changes in structural economy. Conflict interest may come into frame in which cultural as well as natural
tangible and intangible values in the environment are important for local people as carriers of meaning and
identity. At the same time there is a need to develop areas for residence or workplace.

Study made by Ceccato in Snickers, Olerup, & Persson (2002) depicts large inequalities between groups of
populations create places in many European cities where the effects of social in-cohesion are evident. These
disparities are more evident between different social economic groups. In the 1990s, social cohesion has been the
keyword of any strategy in research and policy initiatives for promoting a better quality of life. Even this matter
also has been central to the United Nations, for instance with HABITAT II conference in 1996.

Heterogeneity of the community makes redistribution of resources difficult because what suits one group
may not suit others. As Davidoff in Thompson (2007) argued that land use criteria are inadequate in addressing

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diverse community interests and needs. Such challenges posed questions about the moral responsibility of the
planner to tackle social inequity and injustice. There is an improvement in public policy in recognizing diversity
but full range of diversities must taken into account, not just take a focus on ethnic difference within a frame of
multiculturalism, for instance, but recognize that life cycle, income and location are also markers of diversity and
lines along which difference is produced.

There is no easy task to plan cities of difference. Planners must adhere to the concept of planning for
diversity, reduce entrenched difference and enable convivial encounters (Fincher, 2003). Planning for diversity
guide how local land use planning impeded certain activities meaningful to the lives of some immigrant groups,
in limiting the construction of viable places of worship, and of street stalls for food marketing and socializing.
Further, many local government planners did not think such social concerns were part of the land use planning
task. Whilst planning to reduce entrenched difference emphasizes equality of access. It attempts to plan for the
reduction of differences between people in places includes finding facility-rich and facility-poor regions, and the
intersections of opportunity sets in cities. It is unfortunate that some facilities situated in socially deprived areas
where the local population are least able to reach better facilities elsewhere. Planning to enable convivial
encounters facilitate interaction and encounter amongst people. People will encounter strangers everywhere in
cities, thus spaces must be planned to make such encounters more likely, pleasant without anxiety.

ii. Globalization

One of the issues of globalization is promoting and considering implications of global and transnational or
cross-border issues. The rise of global economy gradually destabilized the welfare state, prompting moves
towards deregulation, privatization and entrepreneurialism to free up competition and remove barriers to
economic growth. This would be one of the biggest overwhelming challenges to planners. As the processes of
globalization widen the gap between rich and poor members of society, care must be taken to ensure that
technological innovation does not become an additional factor of exclusion. The optimal strategy to provide
equal access to and benefits from technology therefore is to take coordinated action and develop communication
both within and between micro-regions. Developing regions generally lack of necessary stability and regional
collaboration to compete globally.

Persson in Snickers, Olerup, & Persson (2002) claimed the increasing emphasis on human capital in
regional development planning is a result of the open market and frequent availability of new technology, regions
and corporations increasingly have to deal with complexity and uncertainty. Economically, globalization is
highlighted by growth of transnational corporations, mobility of capital and labor, influence of high technology
industries, and the role of innovation and knowledge. Politically, the global society is evidenced by devolution of
authority, declining influence of nation-state, and an increase in number of non-governmental organization and
International Governmental Organization. These political trends have impacted the global geography leading to
devolution of regulatory practices to local governments at regional and urban levels. Regions based on
technology must be aware that dangers of technological specialization exist.

iii. Economic Competitiveness

Fostering the competitiveness of regions is presented as a means of providing them with a secure economic
base, capable of underpinning the financial well-being of residents. Marshall, Glasson & Headicar (2002) believe
that competitiveness of individual regions provide a means of enhancing the overall competitiveness of the
country. They claimed the emphasis on competitiveness as a focus for regional economic policy is itself a
problem, because it implies that success will be measured through the ability of a region to attract large firms and
sustain a high technology sector. It is sometimes difficult to escape the echoes of the economic planning. Some
issues identified in regards to economic competitiveness are:

i. To provide a national strategic vision within a global economy where planning as an important element
of this vision.
ii. Joining up physical land use planning with macro-economic policy, with planning system helping to
deliver a competitive economy.
iii. Injecting spatial considerations into macro-economic and social policies of central government.

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 Equal stress is now put on stimulating economic growth in all regions. Thus for example, Central
Government in Sweden through its Ministry of Industry invited all regions to design programs for regional
economic growth in 90s. This regional industrial policy considered efficient matching of the demand and
supply of labor at different qualification level to be one of the most important prerequisites both for economic
growth and social cohesion.

iv. Distribution of Resources

Planners are not only concerned with land use but they are more importantly concerned with the allocation
of resources and especially in priorities for the investment of capital. As planners must provide adequate
resources for each continent or area accordingly, this would be one of the problems need to think about and
encountered. Planning also described by modernist in Thompson (2007) as the optimization and allocation of
resources among various public activities according to objective standards rather than solely on the basis of
political pressure, shaped the habitats of urban man bringing natural resources into the service of man‟s own
needs.

Regional planning in UK for example has been a form of social welfare policy by encouraging redistribution
or resources from wealthier to poorer regions. Different starting point in regional planning may generate
prosperity and growth through building international capacity. This may able to promote sustainable economic
development with a greater focus on wealth creation and jobs.

Distribution of resources affects quality of life of a community where generally the concept includes the
distribution of benefits and human rights. This is very important to social welfare, in less tangible term.
However it does not stand alone to the availability of resources but also easy access and use of them. Unfair
distribution of resources may cause social in-cohesion by disparities in infrastructure and economic conditions
among regions and cities, and a lack of cooperation among those acting in certain geographical area that is lack
of social capital.

v. Uncertainty in Planning

It is hard to promote consistency in planning practice across the nation as providing a framework for local
government and planning practitioners through national guidance already a hindrance. For that is quite
important to promote certainty and support for planning decisions. The problem is that predictions of what will
happen can only be made with low confidence and relate to average conditions over a whole year, these include
water discoloration that increases treatment costs and more intense rainfall that can flood sewage systems.

The uncertainty made worst by inadequate land use planning tool. Some models developed were accused of
being data hungry, non-transparent, and in need of extensive and costly computer hardware. Urban areas in
developing countries are faced with rapidity increasing populations, as well as challenges of providing both
adequate services and the required and ever-enlarging infrastructure necessary to provide adequately for that
population. But with uncertainty situation in planning, adequate services might be not an easy task. What is
needed is innovative strategies to analyze future trends of both population growth and planning efforts.

vi. Environmental Degradation

Balancing the demands for growth and the development of land with the need to protect the environment in
order to achieve sustainability are paramount. In the case of Australia as mentioned by Thompson (2007), their
dry environmental conditions, its loss of productive agricultural land, its urban coastal population concentrations
and tradition of suburban development pose particular challenges for today‟s planners. Marshall, Glasson and
Headicar (2002) argued huge increase in the burning of fossil fuel worldwide over the last 50 years, leading to
increased global carbon emissions. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have increased by 30% over pre-
industrial period. There is a need to look at the impacts of climate change at the regional level for instance on
the shift of landscape domain and key economic sectors in a region. Investment in environmental assets is viewed
as having wider economic benefits in promoting efficiency, image and quality for the region.

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 Geddes in Marshall, Glasson and Headicar (2002) asserted that industrial and urban growth affected not
only the town but also the surrounding hinterland, and because of this growth exerted considerable pressure in
environmental resources across region. Therefore, planning should be undertaken at a regional scale and this
planning should be chiefly concerned with the failure of unthinking and uncaring urbanization and
industrialization. Though, there are some difficulties in regional environmental planning must be addressed. The
danger of actual and potential delay or initiative fatigue of operational capacity at regional level, and lack of
sufficiently trained and experienced professional regional planners and managers.

Urbanization rapidly takes place often result environmental quality suffered. Over the years the urban place
has continued to evolve until today it represents the dominant environment for a significant portion of
humanity. Growing population numbers place enormous pressure on existing facilities and environment. As the
world in general continues to urbanize, the urbanization rate in less developed countries continues to grow faster.
Despite environmental degradation, other dilemmas or challenges are social disorganization, economic
disparities, violence, family breakdown, individual stress and society tension. But simultaneously, social and
economic returns have been achieved through urbanization as witnessed by higher standard of living and better
education.

Asplund in Snickers, Olerup, & Persson (2002) stated the main problem seems not so much to be getting
access to information and facts about environmental conditions and the sources of problems in the environment.
There are difficulties in getting public support for local environmental policies aimed at averting threats not yet
apparent.

vii. Transparency in Administration

Today planning is no longer the preserve of local government. The „modernising planning‟ initiative by Labor
Government of United Kingdom in 1997 has led to the creation of a new and more comprehensive planning
framework. It is to enhance the statutory process in a European, national and strategic policy-making structure,
while strengthening the system‟s role at the local level through strong and relevant development plans.

Disputes within central government may destabilize regional interworking and discourage coordination. As
stated by Sandercock in Howe (2003), pressures placed on urban planners and planning by property and
polluting interests which need transparency in decision making that is important if the power of these interests is
to be managed, requiring open and participatory planning process.

Q2: How best can planners be equipped to meet these urban challenges? What sort of planning
skills planners should have?

Planning is a task for many people who work as a team comprising experts and ordinary citizens, a day
to day civic responsibility requiring a variety of social and professional skills.

Town planners work to find the balance between the conflicting demands for housing, industrial
development, agriculture, recreation, the transport network and the environment, to allow appropriate
development to take place. They prepare long-term plans, examine proposals for new developments, listen to the
views of interested parties, including conservationists, builders, industrialists, farmers and residents, and give
professional advice to decision makers like government departments and local councilors. Planners may have to
deal with problems inherited from the past, like ancient road systems not designed to cope with modern traffic.
They must also try to forecast future trends, such as increased need for housing.

The work can involve confronting very difficult situations, considering all the issues and striking the
right balance. A new factory, for example, might provide new jobs but destroy a wildlife habitat. In some cases,
the best solution is too expensive, so planners have to fit in with financial, political and social pressures. The

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overriding goal of planners to enable some decisions by governors has not changed. Nowadays, decisions faced
by regions involve constant adaptation, experimentation and negotiation. Planners must develop expertise in
communicative theory, in forecasting future developments, and in recognizing social, environmental or economic
patterns which offer opportunities or threats to the region‟s well being. Planners must also be communicators,
offering their expertise to variety stakeholders and perhaps negotiating among the diverse wishes of a large group
of stakeholders. Planners must have the capability to synthesize and organize information in such a way to enable
decision making to choose among current policy alternative.

Some roles of planners are identified by Olsson in Snickers, Olerup, & Persson (2002):

Expert advisor to politicians - As planners do survey the society, gather statistical and qualitative
information, identify potential patterns of development, and formulate alternative strategies for a future
course of action. Politicians then review the work of planners and prioritize among suggested alternative
strategies.
Communicator and arbiter - Acting as a link among those public and private parties affected by a
decision. Helping increase the capacity of citizens to take a more active role in governance.
System analyst - Analyze the complex interaction of processes and actors that affects the state of the
region and the importance in understanding the operation of the system as a whole in order to
effectively control it.

Town planners must be committed to achieving the best possible quality of life in their local area without
causing undue damage to the environment. Planners need to communicate effectively with a wide range different
people and to listen to their conflicting needs and interests before forming a balanced view. In addition, planners
also must be able to writing clear reports in language that can be easily understood.

In practice, the town planner is expected to be able to operate to secure adequately related activity in the
various parts of the framework of a comprehensive town and country planning system involving the local, urban,
metropolitan, regional, rural and natural resource fields. Professional town planners attempt to direct, guide and
influence the formulation of a plan and exert pressure to gain its acceptance and implementation. Planners seek
to establish policy, coordinate departments, set goals, outline objectives and control development. They are
charged with discovering, examining and acting upon the wishes of the local community, and translating their
dictates into a feasible plan through the application of professional skills, techniques and judgment.

Planners also expected to undertake a comprehensive appraisal and detailed analysis of all problems related
to the physical environment in their economic, social and physical contexts. Town planners also are presumed to
possess taste and judgment in aesthetic and environmental matters.

Conclusion

Planning is a complex and continuously evolving concept, largely reflecting its historical response to
prevailing environmental, economic and socio-cultural challenges. Today, planners face ever more complex issues
which demand abroad range of technical skills, a deep level of commitment to environmental and social
sustainability, and the ability to work collaboratively with other professional, communities, and those with the
power to make the decisions that affects us all. Planning matters because its impact is felt every day in the places
where people work, live and seek rest and relaxation. Ultimately planning is about hope for a good future.

In the aspect of Islam in a particular angle, social justice must be practiced and incorporate in planning as
this would the fundamental to the planners to provide the correct proportion of resources and needs to the
society. This may be the basis to counter back all challenges available for planners. As Islam it does not overlook
the needs and the welfare of society, nor does it forget the great achievements of individuals in life and society in
every age and among different nations.
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