Abstract
Abstract
Planning has lost its soul. The ebb and flow of spatial economics, the only determinant of successful places and/or regions, dictates ritual to the
detriment of innovation, ingenuity and in some instances, logic. The plethora of rules, programmes and processes that plague planning have rendered it
(planning) redundant and reactive. In this way, planning has increasingly alienated its original purpose: to sensitise the environment to humankind’s needs to the environment’s abundant opportunities in the midst of the environment’s fragility and sensitivity.
Contemporary challenges including civil wars, global warming, climate change and rampant economic recessions are nothing short of catastrophic considering mankind’s higher intellectual capacities. Rather than being the conduit for change, planning, through rules and numerous protocols, has tamed its protagonists to such an extent that it has systematically mechanised its agents into narrow-minded thinking pawns.
Planning proponents need to rediscover the very purpose of planning: to imagine better alternate futures and to continuously seek the means of attaining these futures. Planning’s interdisciplinary nature requires flexibility unparalleled to any other profession whose aims are to improve societies livelihoods and the sustainability of human settlements.
This paper seeks to redefine the role of planning in society. In addition, it aims to explore and rationalise planning in such a way that lessens its bureaucracy and habitualness. Thus, the role of the ordinary citizen in planning is questioned and garnered for. Lastly, entrenched modes of thinking, at least as far as planning is concerned, are challenged and alternative, more proactive approaches suggested. I will conduct a cross analysis of contemporary planning tools and procedures. It is envisaged that this cross analysis will elucidate the shortcomings or gaps in planning in solving contemporary settlement and societal issues. The gaps identified will act as justifications for the need to change our approach to implementing planning tools and in reorganising our thinking in planning generally.