Flexible planning & innovative approach

Marrit van der Schaar

21 October 2014

Content

• Who am I?

• Very similar planning regulations SA and NL

• Economic crisis brought to light ‘old-fashioned’ planning

• Experiment Flexible Planning

• Vision, communication and trust is key to success

• Changing perspective makes great places in SA

Who am I?

• Human Geographer, MsC.• Y-generation, perky/bold• Worked on Social housing

and Urban planning issues @Platform31– Flexible Planning– Transformation office-

residential

• Moved to Johannesburg in December 2013

• Maboneng Precinct• Author of the blog:

Thenewneighbour.com

What is an experiment?

• Exists 30 years from Ministry of Internal and Kingdom Relations feet on the ground

• Problem? Research and test

• 3 years

• Outside law

• Monitor and evaluate

• Up scale, implement

It is not a pilot project: experiments never fail

Main similarities and differences in Planning schemes

South Africa

• National Building Regulation, Environmental laws, Safety regulations

• Zoning in Planning: regulated by government (standardised)

• Local government makes city planning

• IDP

• No obligation to renew Planning Scheme

Netherlands

• National Building Regulation, Environmental laws,

• Zoning in Planning: regulated by government (standardised)

• Local government makes city planning

• Vision before making Planning Scheme

• 10 year Planning Scheme with obligation to renew

• Holistic approach for more than 10 yeas.

Problem: Rigid Planning

• Financial crisis 2008

• Many vacant offices and need for housing

• Small entrepreneurs

• Regulations and laws from rebuilding the country after WWII

• Different lifestyles and wishes consumer

• Planning not transparent and bureaucratic

Solution: Make it easier!

• Cut back on regulations but ensure safety etc

• Makes it easier for small initiatives

• Costs less money for municipality + initiatives

• Quick reaction to change of local needs

• More transparent

Changes needed in law

Ground Breaking Experiment

• 6 municipalities: Amsterdam, Maastricht, Den Helder, Tynaarlo, Overbetuwe, Beuningen

Getting approval

• Outside the law: Experiment status

• Ministry of Internal and Kingdom Relations + Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment

• Council of State Act & Approval House of Representatives

• Municipalities and their Councils

How to go about?

Keys to success / Lessons learned

• It is difficult!!• Revise the planning scheme of a certain area: is it

not to restricted and old fashioned?• Communication: internally and external is very

important• Have trust• It takes time• Think about what is not desirable instead of what

you want• Raises awareness and ownership• Different places, different approach

How can it help South Africa?

• Different perspective on urban planning

• Holistic approach: break with Apartheid legacy

• Clean up legislation: new times, new requirements

• Many small entrepreneurs and initiatives: use them!

• An experiment can help stimulate innovative thinking

• Experiment status makes people take risks

• It deals with practical problems, you need

to address them

Final remarks

• Inspiring and some open doors

• Book recommendations:– Jane Jacobs: The death and life of great American

Cities (1963)

– Doug Saunders: Arrival City (2011)

• Experiments on:– RDP apartments

– Breaking down the walls

– Flexible Planning

Thank you

Marrit van der Schaar

TheNewNeighbour.com

Questions?