Arc 108

(Basic element of planning)

TOPIC:
 Concept of physical planning,
definition, origin, and elements
 Group 5 members

OMOEMIN ALBRIGHT EHIGEMETOR ENV1905920

OMONZOKPEA EHIMARE WILSON ENV1805867

OMO-OBI GOD'SBENEFIT ENV1905921

OMOREGIE KELVIN OSAMUDIAMWEN ENV1809163

OMORUYI RICHARD ENV1905922

ONYEKA RUSSELL OCHONOGOR ENV1905914

ORUH OGHENEOVO GEORGE ENV1905923

ORUSAKWE AYEBAITARI REUBEN ENV1905924

OSAUZO PRINCEWILL OVOKERIE ENV19O5925

OSAYANDE UYI DESIRE ENV1904101

 Concept of physical planning, definition, origin,

and elements

 PHYSICAL PLANNING

Physical planning is synonymous with “development planning” it is also described as “Land use

planning”, “Town and Country planning”, “Urban and regional planning” or simply “Town planning”

relates generally to the use of land or spatial expression of the desired form of social and economic

development to be translated to the ground. Physical planning is a key component of urban development

initiatives and sets the boundaries that any detailed project must adhere to – such as the legal and

technical guidelines that should be followed. Urban transformation and renewal must be developed as a

proactive element of physical planning as it provides a practical and sustainable means of preparing for

future urbanisation.

It is a form of land use planning which attempts to achieve an optional spatial coordination of different

human activities for the enhancement of the quality of life. It is a design exercise that uses the land use

plan as a framework to propose the optimal physical infrastructure for a settlement or area, including

infrastructure for public services, transport, economic activities, recreation, and environmental

protection. A physical plan may be prepared for an urban area or a rural area. A physical plan for an

urban region can have both rural and urban components, although the latter usually predominates. A

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physical plan at a regional scale can also deal with the provision of specific regional infrastructure, such

as regional road or a bulk water supply system.

Also Physical planning in its broadest sense refers to a set of actions aimed at improving the physical,

social and economic welfare of a place and its dwellers. A sustainable development of society requires

geological information and knowledge to make decisions on issues concerning the built environment

and land and water management. A person who ensures adequately planned land utilisation, by

developing policy framework, provide technical support, monitor and supervise plan formulation and

implementation is a physical planner.

Physical planning map

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  ORIGIN OF PHYSICAL PLANNING

The history of physical planning could be traced to man as he arranged his settlement orderly and

conveniently around the traditional ruler’s palace and worship places. Common rallying centres were

maintained for meetings and decision making. Overtime, man initiated settlement along the roads, trade

and market routes. Early enough he imbibed the tenets of local customs and practices which culminated

in the traditional land tenure system. This engendered land ownership and expansive development that

spontaneously generated the common responsibility for development control of their settlements and

communities.

 Origin of Physical Planning in Nigeria

As a colony of the United Kingdom, physical planning in Nigeria initially towed the centralized

planning practices of the British as enunciated in the Town and Country Ordinance of 1946. However

the enactment of Decree 88 of 1992 as amended in Decree 18 of 1999 conceived planning as practiced

in USA. This is the decentralization of physical planning in Nigeria with emphasis on the planning

authorities that favours bottom-up approach.

In Nigeria the Lagos Town Improvement Ordinance of 1863 was essentially the first planned related

legislation. The promulgation of this ordinance by the colonialist was informed by the poor state of

sanitation in Lagos. It was with a view to control development and poor sanitation in this environment.

However the entrenchment of physical planning in Nigeria by the colonialist climaxed with the

enactment of the Nigeria Town and Country Ordinance of 1946. This was the period Nigeria was

politically partitioned into three quasi-autonomous administrative regions referred to as the North, East

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and West. As such this ordinance ordered the planning, re-planning, improvement and development of

\different parts of the country.

The 1946 Ordinance covered diverse areas of physical planning activities. Such areas are: Planning

scheme, Execution of scheme, Acquisition and disposal of land for Scheme as well as compensation and

betterment. Other areas are the legal procedures for the operation of scheme and financial matters for

successful implementation of the schemes. The major interest of this ordinance was improvement and

development and control through planning schemes prepared by the Planning Authorities appointed by

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the Governor-general. The ordinance remained the physical planning law in 1960 when Nigeria became

an independent Nation and up to 1992 when Nigerian urban and Regional planning Act, No 88 was

promulgated. This 1946 Ordinance was the first legislative document that provided an all-embraced

guidance and focus for administration of physical planning activities in Nigeria. At independence, the

1946 Town and Country Planning Laws, Chapter 123 of the laws of western Nigeria and chapter 126 of

the laws of Eastern Nigeria.

The regional variation of the ordinance introduced variegated approaches to physical planning problems

in the three regions due to increased urbanization experience in Nigeria soon after experience. This

invariably created a setback on the overall development of Nigeria at large. This is perhaps one of the

primary factors that gave rise to planning legislation in Nigeria. The evolutionary trend of physical

planning in Nigeria started with the Lagos town improvement Ordinance of 1863 to control poor

sanitation and development in Lagos followed by 1917 Township Ordinance which expanded its horizon

to the entire Nigeria. Afterwards the Nigerian Town and country planning of 1946 came and reeled off

the processes of a wide range of physical planning activities (Oyesiku,2004). This retained a tailor made

regional derivative of the Ordinance for the North, East and West. In 1992, physical planning in Nigeria

had grown into sophistication. Accordingly a more expansive indigenous Nigerian urban and regional

planning Law CAP 88 of 1992 was enacted and was robustly couched to assign responsibilities to the

three tiers of government in Nigeria, classified as the commission for the Federal, Board for State and

Authority for local government areas.

Physical planning is therefore basically concerned with ordering of structures and activities in space in a

rational and environmentally sustainable Manner to achieve health, convenience economy, safety and

beauty (Egunjobi 1999). It is also the art and science of ordering the use of land and sitting of building

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and communication routes so as to secure the maximum practicable degree of economy, convenience

and aesthetics (Keeble, 1969).

ELEMENTS OF PHYSICAL PLANNING

 BUILDINGS: Buildings are the most pronounced elements of urban design. They shape and

articulate space by forming the street walls of the city. Well-designed buildings and groups of

buildings work together to create a sense of place.

 PUBLIC SPACES: Public spaces are the living room of the city. The place where people come

together to enjoy the city. Public spaces make high quality life in the city possible. They form

the stage and backdrop to the drama of life. Public spaces range from grand central plazas and

squares, to small, local neighborhood parks. Public areas strengthen the ethnic integration

between people and communities.

 STREETS: Streets are the connections between spaces and places, as well as being spaces

themselves. They are defined by their physical dimension and character as well as the size,

scale, and character of the buildings that line them. Streets range from ground avenues such as

the Champs -Elysees in Paris to small infinite pedestrian streets. The pattern of the street

network is part of what defines a city and what makes each city unique. Streets helps to provide

proper linkages among land use, transport and economic activities.

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  TRANSPORT: Transport systems connect the parts of cities and help shape them, and enable

movement throughout the city. They include road, rail, bicycle, and pedestrian networks and

together form the total movement systems is what helps to define the quality and character of

cities and makes them either friendly or hostile to pedestrian. The best cities are the ones that

elevate the experience of the pedestrians. The best cities are the ones that elevate the experience

of the pedestrian while minimizing the dominance of The private automobile. It helps in the

introduction of planned settlement network.

 LANDSCAPE: The landscape is the green part of the city that weaves throughout in the form of

urban parks, street trees, plants, flowers, and water in many forms. The landscape helps define

the character and beauty of a city and creates soft, contrasting spaces and elements. Green

spaces in cities range from grand parks such as central parks such as central park in New York

City and the Washington DC Mall to small intimate parks. Landscape implements

environmentally friendly sustainable development across the country and conserves valuable

environmentally sensitive areas.

OBJECTIVE OF PHYSICAL PLANNING

• To enhance economic development.

• To plan cities and towns.

• To facilitate the provision of infrastructure, utilities and services

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• To create order where there is chaos.

• Creation of beauty.

• To reduce psychological stress.

• To create a conducive environment for all.

• Conservation of aesthetics.

FUNCTIONS OF PHYSICAL PLANNING

• To initiate, formulate and review the National Land Use Policy.

• National and regional planning

• Standard setting.

• Technical support to local authorities

• Technical and administrative support to the Town and Country Planning board

• Review of the legal framework for physical planning in the country.

• Inspection and monitoring all land based developments in the country to ensure that they conform to

approve planning schemes, laws and regulation.

• To monitor the manner of utilization and development of land by various ministries and organizations

to ensure compliance with national policies, standards and plans.

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• To liaise with local and international organizations including NGOs that has relevance to physical

planning.

IMPORTANCE AND BENEFIT OF PHYSICAL PLANNING

• Helpful in the fight against urban and rural poverty.

• Helps to address environmental problems.

• Helps to maximize the use of land and other resources.

• Facilitates orderly development.

• Introduces beauty in our settlements.

• Separates incompatible land uses.

• Eases service provision.

• Plans can be used as a fundraising tool.

• Helps to improve property values.

• Deals with natural selfishness among developers and thus reduces nuisances.

• Helps conserve/preserve important features/areas.

• Sensitization of the public in support of development efforts.

• Protects water catchment areas and protects underground water reserves.

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