International Conference on

Housing: An Engine for Inclusive Growth-

Inclusive Housing - Regulatory and Policy Framework of

Urban Planning

Prof. (DR.) Neelima Risbud , Dean, School of Planning & Architecture, Delhi

April 11th, 2013

Context Indian cities are getting larger, growth rates are

high, land prices are shooting, populations is predominantly living in informal areas with poor living condition.

By 2030, in India 590 million people are expected to live in cities which will be 40% of India’s total population.

However, the growth should be Sustainable, and more ‘Inclusive’ for the low income group.

Planning is important to allow cities to make informed trade- offs on their use of scarce resources such as land,

Planning Regulations for Housing

Planning Regulations are important instruments available with the Governments to influence urban land and housing markets, and the investment decisions of private sector –Individuals and developers.

Development Control regulation (DCR)

Zoning Regulations Use reservationsDensityFAR

Sub Division regulationsMinimum plot sizeCoverage Facility standardsOpen space standards

Generally Planning regulations prescribe low density of development and high housing and open space standards contributing to an artificial increase in land consumption.

High land consumption leads to Urban sprawl.

High Land consumption also leads to unaffordable housing forcing more than 50% of urban households to build illegally in form Unauthorized Colonies & Squatter Settlements with Insecure titles

However at present the quality of life in most Indian cities in terms of basic services is poor. Cities today are more exclusionary.

Most planning regulations do not prescribe norms for slum upgrading.

As such upgraded slums do not confirm to planning regulations and do not get integrated into urban planning system.

Insecure titles create exclusion

Preventing investment in housing construction and improvements

Denying access to formal channels of credit

leading to financial exclusion

Preventing entitlement to basic services

property tax revenue base of local authorities

Lack of Access to Land for housing creates Exclusion

Availability of land for affordable housing is most crucial issue.

High cost of land contributes to high cost of unaffordable housing leading to exclusion

of large number of urban households. In India under the Urban Renewal mission

JNNURM earmarking at least 20–25 per cent of developed land for housing projects for low income housing is mandated in every Residential layout

Minimum prescribed Plot Sizes are high

Low Density prescribed in Master Plan results in high land consumptions and unaffordable housing

Low Floor Area Ratio (FAR) prescribed –high land consumption

Prescription of high Open Space standardsIncreases housing costs

Reforms in regulations are essential for Inclusion1. Compact cities.

2. Efficient and intensive use of land .

3. Improving security of tenure to improve market efficiency and improving effective demand for housing finance.

4. Increase in the consumption of residential floor space per person for improved livability

Thanks