Authors:Ayodeji Ajayi Pages: 6 - 20 Abstract: There is increasing evidence linking the availability of urban open spaces to improve active living and outdoor behaviour. However, it is not clear what typologies of urban open spaces stimulate what types of activities. This article explores outdoor utilisation of open spaces in residential neighbourhoods of Osogbo, a South-Western city in Nigeria. The study classified neighbourhoods in the city into high-, medium- and lowdensity areas. Out of the 6 818 buildings identified in the selected neighbourhoods, multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 1 265 respondents. Using a survey research method, data were obtained through structured questionnaires, field observations, objective measurement of open spaces via Geographic Information System, and photographic recordings. The data were analysed with the aid of IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences Statistics 24, and further presented in descriptive statistics, percentage statistics, and chi-square test. Different typologies of open spaces were identified (school playgrounds, neighbourhood park, incidental open spaces, pocket park). Walking and vigorous, moderate, and sedentary activities were observed in the open spaces. Results also show that sedentary activities were prevalent across all typologies, and the highest proportion of vigorous activities occurred in the incidental open spaces. In addition, the results revealed statistically significant variations in self-reported vigorous outdoor activities across the open space typologies. There was also statistically significant difference in the level of activities between males and females in the city. Findings show that the patterns of outdoor activities differ by typologies. To stimulate active living, this study recommends that appropriate amenities be provided in urban open spaces. PubDate: 2022-09-19 Issue No:Vol. 80, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Itumeleng Mahlakanya, Lodene Willemse Pages: 21 - 39 Abstract: Physical housing conditions and neighbourhood characteristics influence people’s living conditions. This article aims to determine changes in the living conditions of people residing in main and backyard shacks, and backyard rooms in the City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni from 2001 to 2011. The methods involved computing percentages to determine profile characteristics, calculating an average living conditions index (LCI) score per main place for 2001 and 2011, and mapping the average LCI scores through thematic and hot spot analyses. Results show that young, Black, single men mostly reside in these dwellings. People are better educated and have higher incomes in backyard rooms, compared to main shacks; service delivery shows similar patterns. People in all the dwelling types and municipalities generally experience poor to average LCI scores, and none higher than 60%. Backyard rooms do, however, generally produce higher LCI scores than main shacks. Important policy implications are highlighted. PubDate: 2022-09-19 Issue No:Vol. 80, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Wilfred Ochieng Omollo Pages: 40 - 53 Abstract: Walking in urban areas is regarded as healthy, cheap, and pollution free. It is influenced by variables such as the availability of safe footpaths, rights-of-way, condition of roads, patterns of land use, and safety. However, unsatisfactory provision of footpaths continues to attract global attention because of their centrality to sustainable urban mobility and safety. This article used a correlational research design to investigate if the residential building developments in the seven neighbourhoods of Kisii town, Kenya, comply with the planning standard that regulates pedestrian footpaths. It was guided by the public interest theory of regulation that justifies spatial planning through development control. A structured observation checklist, satellite image and photography were used to collect primary data. The analysis relied on a onesample t-test, GIS, and Pearson’s bivariate correlation. Research findings showed that most of the residential developments failed to observe the two metres planning standard. Compliance generally declined by a mean of 0.3 metres, thus negating the development control principles of access and safety in the use of footpaths as public spaces. The problem was exacerbated by developments that intruded on road reserves, thus reducing the widths of footpaths, the inability of the County Government of Kisii to effectively undertake development control, and the failure to prioritise the provision of footpaths when awarding tenders for the construction and maintenance of roads. As a case study, this article enlightens the academic community, policymakers, and practitioners in the construction industry on how compliance with the standards used in regulating footpaths may be evaluated through a triangulation of statistical and spatial approaches, a gap that hitherto existed in the town-planning literature. PubDate: 2022-09-19 Issue No:Vol. 80, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Francois Wüst Pages: 54 - 65 Abstract: Municipalities across the globe require good planning instruments to address the need for medium- to long-term planning. In South Africa, the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and the Spatial Development Framework (SDF) could be regarded as the two main instruments in the system of forward planning, as mandated by the national government. The system, however, is over two decades old and is not without its detractors and, as such, fresh reviews are warranted. In investigating the instruments, it is the purpose of this review article, as a first step, to identify, compare and analyse several terms or phrases used in global literature in connection with forward planning, in particular blueprint or master planning, comprehensive planning, integrated planning, strategic planning, strategic spatial planning, and community planning. Finally, the article explores the IDP and SDF against the insights gained from this process. PubDate: 2022-09-19 Issue No:Vol. 80, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Masilonyane Mokhele, Brian Fisher-Holloway Pages: 66 - 76 Abstract: Processes of logistics, which facilitate the flow of goods, are crucial in contemporary economies. Largely responsible for the physical distribution component of logistics, warehousing and distribution (W&D) facilities are pertinent to urban and regional planning because they are, inter alia, the most space-extensive component of logistics and supply chain. Despite the importance of logistics, the regulation of the location of logistics facilities has been insufficient because of the poor relationship between logistics planning and urban policy. Using the study area of the Cape functional region, the article aims to analyse the inclusion of W&D in the spatial plans. The study was based on qualitative interviews conducted with nine urban and regional planners as well as content analysis of the applicable spatial development frameworks (SDFs). It was discovered that the SDFs in the region do not sufficiently address W&D. It is, therefore, recommended that policymakers as well as urban and regional planners align policy documents to facilitate the development of W&D facilities. It is also recommended that policy documents be informed by the intricacies of W&D instead of merely being based on broad industrial land use. PubDate: 2022-09-19 Issue No:Vol. 80, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Ma’aruf Sani Pages: 77 - 87 Abstract: The 1992 Urban and Regional Planning Law, later catalogued as Chapter 38 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) in 2004, is the latest in a series of legislations on physical planning in Nigeria. Contrived as a national legislation under a centralised administration, it was meant to be adopted by each of the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. However, 30 years on, full implementation of its provisions is yet to be effected. The objectives of this review article include an exploration of the content of the law and the status of its implementation across the 36 states in Nigeria from 1992 to 2022. The method used is qualitative, involving a review of secondary information from government documents, newspaper reports, and content analyses of provisions of the law in view of the realities of planning administration in the country. The article shows that only 11 states out of 36 have passed the law, demonstrating a general lacklustre attitude towards it. In addition, the required institutions of autonomous Local Planning Authorities and Development Control Departments, which the law prescribes as arrowheads in its implementation, are yet to be established, even in the states where the law has been legislated. The article discusses the provisions and relevance of the law and the wide gulf between its intent and the reality of urban growth in Nigeria. The article concludes by recognising the general lack of competence among the states in implementing the law and identified key issues including the need for future planning legislations to be more pragmatic by separating policy from detailed development control standards in their administration. PubDate: 2022-09-19 Issue No:Vol. 80, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Emmanuel Kabundu, Sijekula Mbanga, Paul Makasa, Noxolo Ngema Pages: 88 - 104 Abstract: There is a great need for the planning and implementation of sanitation technologies (STs) to take into consideration the user-acceptance factor and, therefore, limit resource wastage. This article aims to determine whether the pattern of relative importance of the factors that affect sanitation technology user-acceptance (STUA) is similar across study areas located in South Africa and Malawi with respect to the STs rolled out. Information from the study is especially critical for resource conservation, considering the recent relatively poor performance of the South African economy (a 7% slump) in 2020. Desktop research methods, using data from previous studies, were used to perform an analysis of the significance of the underlying factors that influence STUA. These were based on a systematic review that uses a structured protocol for literature review, together with the snowball approach. The methodology proposed by the Water Research Commission (WRC) under the sanitation suitability index was used to perform the sanitation technology comparisons. This article adds value to previous research in that, unlike previous research studies, it considers several relevant researched technologies to establish whether there exist similar patterns of relative significance of factors that influence STUA. Reliability, health, user- and technical acceptability were the predominant influencers of STUA. Education, training, and technical support are necessary throughout the sanitation project life cycle. PubDate: 2022-09-19 Issue No:Vol. 80, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Niké Jacobs, Selna Cornelius Pages: 105 - 117 Abstract: Making sense of the myriad of available research design options is generally an arduous task for researchers. Proper research design is, subsequently, often neglected in Planning research, resulting in superficial research outputs. To simplify this task of designing research, a roadmap was created with ‘building blocks’ that organises available research design options. Supportive and guiding literature references are also provided for each listed option in the ‘building blocks’ as a point of departure for researchers. These ‘building blocks’ were created by conducting a systematic review of peer-reviewed articles, books, and grey literature on methodology for social and applied sciences (with a specific focus on Planning). Planning students and researchers may use these ‘building blocks’ as a point of departure for identifying and choosing options when designing their own research. Planning educators may find it useful in designing a thorough research methodology course. PubDate: 2022-09-19 Issue No:Vol. 80, No. 1 (2022)
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