Need for updating existing planning and building legislation for urban environmental management

Abstract

Sustainable development is only a notion, which has been defined in different manner by different professionals. Although it has many definitions it is believed that it has been meant for the good health of world's development. It is not compulsory for a country to embrace a development strategy like sustainable development in order to satisfy their nation. There are other alternative options such as 'development at any cost'. What is more important thing about sustainable development is that its current existence in the societies without being a totally a new invention. It has been practiced for long time in ancient cities in the world and even in Sri Lanka. There is enough evidence to those nations who practiced sustainable concepts even though unconsciously have been able to fulfill their aspirations with prosperity. Urban environmental management, which is one of the key areas that any government is concerned about, more or less coincides with sustainable principles. Proper management of urban environment offers quick and easy way to reach sustainable goals. It is more advantageous to a third world country to go for sustainable development since it is more or less like managing the urban environment which already exist, rather than adapting new concepts for achieving countries goals on development. What is only needed is that to update the existing urban environmental management principles to suit the present day requirement. The built environment is one of the key elements in the urban environment, which really affects the sustainable goals of the society. Managing the built environment in order to satisfy the sustainable goals is done through planning and building legislation which have been made out by several organizations. The research is therefore looking for need for updating existing planning and building legislation, identifying missing aspects to suit the present day requirement in order to achieve the sustainability of the nation.