An Integrated planning approach for regional development

Abstract

This study aims to introduce an integrated or comprehensive planning approach for regional planning and development, formulating an integrated urban based spatial development strategy for the southern province. The study comprises five broad chapters and a brief introductory chapter. The introductory chapter discusses the general problems of regional planning and development in the country, objectives of the study and the planning methodology which the study is based on. Chapter one contains two major sectors relating to theories and concepts in regional planning. Section one gives a general introduction of regional planning paying attention to its nature and meaning. In this respect it describes a planning process to be followed in planning and development of regions. Section two of the chapters' deals with theoretical and conceptual aspects of regional planning in general. Under that, it is analysed the suitable spatial unit for regional planning and development paying attention to various types of regions. The final part of this section discusses the importance of public participation in integrated regional planning with reference to evolutionary process of it. Chapter two reviews the past experiences in regional planning and development in the country. The section one of the chapter discusses the reasons for failure of past national planning attempts adopted to develop regions. The evolutionary process of planning is discussed under three distinct periods such as, pre 1946 period, 1946 to 1978 period and post 1978 period. The section two of the chapter evaluates the decentralised development policies initiated in 1970s and the area wide regional development programmes under taken to improve the socio-economic situation in the country. The last section discusses the suitability of provinces as planning regions for integrated regional planning and development. Chapter three mainly discusses the need for an integrated planning approach for regional development. In this respect, problems of regional planning and development are discussed paying more attention to regional disparities prevailed in provinces. Then it will discuss the need of an integrated or comprehensive regional planning approach to avoid regional imbalances. Consequently, it is ascertained that an integrated planning approach should comprise socio- economic, physical and environmental aspects of the area. Chapter four is devoted to an analysis of the case study area; Southern province. The section one of the chapter analyses the socio-economic physical and environmental aspects in order to identify the problems and potentials of development. The second part of the chapter will attempt to formulate an integrated spatial development strategy for the development of the province. The fifth and the last chapter comprises the conclusions and recommendations of the study.