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Item Open Access Contextualising the National Development Plan for enhanced service delivery: considerations for planning in KwaZulu-Natal(Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of the Free State, 2016) Subban, Mogie; Theron, HenkEnglish: Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) are the planning instruments directed at strategies for enhancing service delivery in local government. As a consequence, capacity initiatives are driven by these plans to address prioritised developmental needs. The key to establishing such initiatives is informed by the National Development Plan (NDP). This Plan changed the planning regime in South Africa, culminating in a comprehensive planning hierarchy for local, provincial and national spheres of government. In light thereof, the paper theoretically examines the alignment of planning work procedures in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in ensuring that development planning is ‘on track’. To this end, the KZN Provincial Planning Commission (PPC) developed a Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) aligned with the National Plan. It follows then that District Municipalities formulated a District Growth and Development Plan (DGDP) with the same time horizon as the National Plan leading to 2030. Municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) then become instruments to implement the Provincial Strategy in five-year periods. Against the background of action-based Batho-Pele Principles as necessary determinants, key issues may be addressed, whilst contextualising long-term development planning and implementation as the NDP-PGDP-IDP praxis. Cumulatively, planners in KZN must respond to this new plan hierarchy innovatively by integrating and aligning with the NDP at other planning levels in an ethical, accountable and socially responsible manner addressing poverty, inequality and unemployment. The article concludes that the trajectory of development planning in KZN is strategically linked to national and long-term initiatives and work procedures for enhanced service delivery.Item Open Access Die invloed van klimaatverandering op die Suid-Afrikaanse stad en voorgestelde aanpassings(Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of the Free State, 2016) Conradie, DirkEnglish: The purpose of this article is to research the effect of climate change on the South African city and to recommend appropriate measures, based on the specific climatic zone. With increased climate change, it is getting increasingly important that the South African city should be resilient. Recently, the CSIR produced new climate and energy maps to replace the SANS 204 (2011) South African National Building Standards six zone climatic region map. To ensure the long-term applicability of the new climate map, it was decided that, over and above the use of historic climatic data, climate change should also be considered. An A2 climate change scenario of the Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES) for the period 1961-2100 (Engelbrecht et al., 2011: 649) was used. An A2 scenario can be described as business as usual. Recent research predicts that southern Africa can expect a temperature increase of between 4°C to 6°C in hot western dessert areas (Engelbrecht & Engelbrecht, 2016: 247-261). Simultaneously, the amount of energy in the atmosphere increases, causing higher intensity storms (Emanuel, 2005: 686-688). The significant warming will have a severe impact on cities where the so-called Urban Heat Island (UHI) causes cities to be significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas. These factors indicate that climate change will have a significant impact on the southern African city.Item Open Access Towards more compact South African settlements through informal housing: the case of backyard densification in Bridgton and Bongolethu, Oudtshoorn(Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of the Free State, 2016) Lategan, Louis; Cilliers, JuaneeEnglish: This article engages the concepts of urban sprawl and density, as the foundations for a discussion on South Africa’s informal backyard rental sector. This research attempts to relate some of the spatial impacts levied by the backyard sector in post-apartheid South Africa, based on case study research in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, the Rose Valley formalisation project, as well as the Bridgton and Bongolethu townships. This article employs both qualitative and quantitative analyses and arrives at several key findings. Results show that informal backyard rentals increase dwelling unit and population densities substantially in the case study, accommodating households who would otherwise occupy land illegally on the urban periphery, contributing to urban sprawl. Findings also suggest that these backyard tenants enjoy excellent access to services, placing increased pressure on Oudtshoorn’s already overcapacitated infrastructure network. This article posits that informal backyarding has to be encouraged and supported based on the sector’s contribution to urban compaction, but that related impacts on infrastructure be addressed in future planning interventions.Item Open Access Toward achieving diversity through collaborative planning in mixed-use precincts: a case study of Florida Road, Durban (South Africa)(Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of the Free State, 2016) Cele, Desiree; Chipunga, LovemoreEnglish: Entertainment precincts are typically packed with a dynamic mix of people and land uses that create areas with economic and social benefits. However, for a naturally occurring precinct such as Florida Road, Durban, the social disharmony emanating from the placement of the land uses makes the area vulnerable. The aim of the research was to examine how best a collaborative approach could foster diversity. Both quantitative and qualitative primary data, collected by means of questionnaires and interviews drawn from the various stakeholders in the precinct, were conducted in order to assess the nature of the issues. The research also drew data from the lived experience of temporary/long-term residents and visitors and/or users of the precinct to maintain an inhibited view outside of the private interests involved. The research found that there have been minor changes to the spatial land-use pattern since 2007. There is, however, a higher intensity of land-use activity such as restaurants operating as nightclubs at close proximity to residential flats. The study results showed that, while the Florida Road precinct management has made great progress since its inception in 2012, there is dialectic tension between the relevant stakeholders relating to planning and the decision-making processes. The authors recommend intimate collaborative planning that enables communities and local government to communicate effectively without squandering opportunities to diversify mixed-use precincts.