Toolbox
Neighbourhood Plan and Design
Toolbox Themes
- Socio-spatial inclusion
Objectives
Develop an implementable urban design plan for the neighbourhood based on the data gathering, analysis and participatory activities.
Results
Neighbourhood urban design plan (Neighbourhood Plan)
Description
In this activity, the technical team develops and consolidates the urban design plan for the neighbourhood, informed by the data gathering and analysis, and incorporating the outputs from the Neighbourhood Planning Workshop (Activity 32) and additional urban interventions. The plan is guided by the city's land use map and the established spatial strategy: extension, regeneration, densification or conservation. Each one has specific focus and implications:
- Extension zones: considerable changes in land use, urban Blocks, form and function design, integration of infrastructure, considerable density additions.
- Densification zones: almost no changes in land use, detailed density zoning and urban form and function.
- Regeneration zones: moderate changes in land use, integration and rehabilitation of infrastructure, slum upgrading, regeneration of environmentally challenging areas, urban form and function design, moderate density additions.
- Conservation zones: no changes in land use, integration and rehabilitation of infrastructure, protection of environmental assets, no changes in current density.
The Neighbourhood Plan considers three main components. The first is a detailed design for the public area and those aspects regarding access to services, such as urban streets, public spaces, integrated infrastructure, utilities, etc. In those cases where it is included in the land use, social housing typologies are also defined and designed.
The second is the review of the city's strategic catalytic projects located in the neighbourhood area, defined in Block E Strategic Development Plan. Additionally to this, specific projects and interventions for the neighbourhood will be defined in the next activity. The third component is the definition of the land and Blocks that are or will be privatised and developed. These areas are subdivided into plots of sizes that consider the designated land use and the local urban structure and context. Finally, especially if the land management plan was not completed, the Neighbourhood Plan includes design standards and regulatory directives that the new private buildings will need to follow, such as setbacks, maximum height, floor area ratio (FAR), quality of public spaces, surface of urban green spaces, facade control details, etc.
Steps
- Review the data gathering and analysis and the outputs of the Neighbourhood Planning Workshop (Activity 32).
- Review the results from Block E Strategic Development Plan and/or Block F Land Management Plan, specifically the components that apply to the neighbourhood area (e.g. urban development structure and strategic areas, development zones, land strategies, land uses).
- Develop the design and guidelines for the Neighbourhood Plan.
Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action:
The planning and design process should also consider integrating options that allow the neighbourhood to adapt to climate hazards and reduce disaster risk. Below you find some examples of climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction design options that can be implemented at neighbourhood scale:
- Design to manage high temperatures and drought: cool pavement materials, tree planting for shading and evapotranspiration, orientation of buildings to reduce solar gain, rainwater harvesting, etc.
- Design to manage flood risk: use of permeable surface materials, green spaces and green roofs to reduce runoff, widening of drains, etc.
- Design to manage erosion and landslide risk: surface erosion control structures, vegetation cover for soil retention, reinforcing of slopes.
- Design considering the zoning and land use regulations to limit neighborhood development in high-risk areas and promote the creation of safe zones for critical infrastructure and housing.
In order to identify disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation options that can be implemented in your neighbourhood, a good option is to conduct a benchmark with other neighbourhoods or cities that are facing similar challenges.
Additional Resources:
- A Practical Guide to Climate-resilient Buildings & Communities
- Build Green: Charter for Sustainable Building, Neighbourhood Design and Urban Mobility in Tropical Countries
- Energy and Resource Efficient Urban Neighbourhood Design Principles for Tropical Countries. Practitioner’s Guidebook
- Climate change adaptation by design