Spatial Planning in the Hinterlands - Essay Example

Spatial planning in the hinterlands Introduction Most of the countries in the world are urbanized with United s and the United Kingdom leading with almost above 80% and 90% of urbanization respectively. It is also reported that in the year 2005, 48.6% of the world population lived in urban areas and is predicted to grow at an annual urbanization rate of 1.98 from 2005 - 2010. (www.cia.gov) This process of urbanization has led to isolation of rural areas. It is evident that in most of the urbanized countries with an ever increasing population and migration trends, the developed countries in an effort to provide basic facilities have ignored the rural areas. The rural areas are engulfed by the urbanization and cities are becoming bigger and larger in order to occupy the population. The Office of National Statistics defines rural areas as population below 10,000 people and divides it into sub categories of town and fringe, villages or hamlets and isolated dwellings. The Defra Local Authority classified the rural areas basing on the rural population percentage within the District or Unitary Authority. (CRC, 2008) As per the United Nations Data, total rural population of world in the year 1950 was 1,798,297 and it is predicted to reach 2,792,995 till 2050. And the total urban population of world in the year 1950 was 736,796 and it is assumed that the number will reach 6,398,291 in the year 2050. The above facts and figures indicate that the numbers will double in the case of rural areas whereas the population in the urban area is going to increase at much brisk pace. According to same source, it is reported that by 2050, 86% of the most developed nations will be urbanized keeping the rural areas to 14%. (http://esa.un.org) In view of the above, it is necessary to evaluate and assess the future implications to cope with ever increasing urban population and migration from rural areas to cities and segregation of rural areas from development activities. Spatial Planning Spatial Planning is considered as what can and what should happen investigating the interaction of different policies and practice across regional space defining the role of places in a wider context. It sets out a strategic framework to guide future development and policy interventions which are well beyond the traditional land use planning. (www.ssiacymru.org.uk) Spatial Planning in England is revolutionizing with new system abolishing strategic structure and unitary development plans. (www.planningportal.gov.uk) In view of the increasing population trends all over the world, the government is left with no option other than to expand its boundaries of cities to occupy its citizens who are migrating from rural towns to urban cities. Moreover today's major cities are agglomeration of small rural towns or suburban areas which were remotely linked to cities. According to Citymayors Statistics for the year 2006, London has a population of 8,278,000 with an area of 1,623 Sq.Km and measured population density at 5,100 people per sq.km. It is predicted that by 2020 the population of London would touch down to 7.59 million at an -0.02%. (www.citymayors.com) The development of urbanization will reduce the rural population growth rate and rural population of Europe is reported to be declining steadily since 1950 at the rate of -0.54% per year during 1975-2000 and will continue at the rate of -1.31% during 2000-2030. (Gerard,et al, 2004) The need for spatial planning was contributed by number of factors such as technological changes in communication and transport, Single Market concept, challenges of globalization of the economy making it necessary to strengthen its ties with distant partners, forthcoming enlargement calls for an overall strategic approach for the development relating to transport, energy and communication networks. (http://ec.europa.eu) Various initiatives and polices taken by the governments to develop the urban cities and provide basic necessities ignoring the natural resources and environmental benefits of rural areas. The governments are becoming more ambitious in getting their most of the lands urbanized by land planning and including the surrounding areas of cities and towns. Stuart Burgess, Chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities states that rural England was viewed as a place that provides a dormitory or a leisure facility for urban people, where agriculture and land based activities would shift from production of food towards looking after land. The image of rural England changed after recent events like foot and mouth disease, floods, sharp rises in food and other commodity prices. (CRC, 2008) All these factors have led to evolve a different meaning and understanding to the rural England. The CRC report reveals that England rural population is increasing than in country as a whole due to internal migration. It is reported the most of the population is over 60 years as people continue to leave rural areas at the age of 20 leaving behind a small proportion of people in the age group of 20 to 25 years. 8.6% built up settlements are maintained as gardens and green space and its surroundings are used for agricultural purpose accounting 70% of the total land. Conversion of countryside into urban areas as per the guidelines of government has led to high demand for housing resulting increase in prices. (CRC, 2008) Need for Spatial Planning In order to include the countryside area, it needs to be developed with commercial and residential activities so that migration trends come down and population density decreases. CRC reports that house prices continued to rise in 2007 which makes affording the house a stringent task in rural areas with most of the homeless rural households living in temporary accommodation.(CRC, 2008) Mathew Taylor in his report to PM stated that England countryside is wonderful place to live and work provided a home and reasonably paid job. He also mentioned in his report that lack in providing affordable homes to people in rural areas will leave the countryside into gated communities of wealthy commutes and retired persons. (The Taylor Review) Apart from home factor, the services needed are declining in both urban and rural areas, but due to distant houses and travelling, the decline is rapid in rural areas. The level of access to an hourly or better bus services has slowed down and used of broadband services is higher is rural areas which have better transportation facilities. (CRC, 2008) The above facts reveal that the cities are becoming larger and denser year by year. Trends in migration from rural to cities are at rise even though the biggest and denser city of UK, London is predicted to lesser population by 2020 at the rate of -0.02% taking its total population to 7.59 million. (www.citymayors.com) The density in the city is measured at 5,100 per Sq. Km which makes it necessary for the authorities evaluate and design the framework and policies in respect of spatial planning. To cope with such density, it is necessary to increase the boundaries of city and include the country side towns and villages into its periphery so that more space could be allocated for the purpose of social and economic activity. Various Initiatives for Rural Development After examining the Taylor's Review, the government agreed that 'one size fits all' approach is not justifiable and emphasized on creating and maintaining sustainable communities in the countryside, encouraging sustainable growth in rural areas, providing support for home-based businesses, increasing housing supply in long term through master planning and community involvement. (www.communities.gov.uk) European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in its objectives laid in regulation (EC) No. 1783/1999 provides community initiatives for cross border, transnational and interregional cooperation along with economic and social regeneration of cities and urban neighbourhoods in crisis. ERDF finances majorly in creation of sustainable jobs, investment in infrastructure, in all eligible regions including depressed urban areas and rural areas. (http://europa.eu) Rural Development Programme for England jointly funded by EU Commission released 3.9 billion for the 2007-2013 budgets mainly in the direction of agri-environment and other land management schemes which will help the farmers to manage the land more sustainably and deliver positive outcomes. (www.defra.gov.uk) To protect the interests of farmers, Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) formed in 1981 looks after the agricultural tenanted sector and voices the problems to the governments. (www.tenant-farmers.org.uk) Future implications Increasing urban populations and migration trends from rural to urban cities have caused the under development of rural areas. In order to occupy the increasing population, governments are looking upon the countryside area as an extension to the urbanization process which may lead to destruction of agricultural land and other lands used for forestry and other purposes. Recent crisis have led to many studies on increase prices, real estates, etc. which opined that rural development is necessary to tackle the price wars and land wars. Encroachment on rural areas would lead to lesser agricultural products and will also lessen the density of population in the urban places. The urbanization of rural areas would also lead to creation of employment and better home based businesses. It would also encourage the setups of supermalls, better transport facilities, food shops and outlets, etc. The future implication of the study leads to many positive and negative effects in rural areas. Conclusion As stated earlier, rural areas should be seen as hinterlands for the sake of effective spatial planning that are functionally linked to core cities, derives positive and negative outputs. The rate of employment and transportation facilities in remote and underdeveloped areas is very low but has better health conditions and environment. Most of the youngsters migrate to cities at the age of 20 years leaving behind a small proportion of people between 20-35 years. Urbanization of remote rural areas would provide additional employment creating sustainable jobs at their nearest and better transportation facility. Anyhow, rural areas should be protected in view of future agricultural crisis which is inevitable due to ever increasing population and urbanization. References 1. Anthony Gerard Champion, Graeme Hugo and Tony Champion, New forms of urbanization: beyond the urban-rural dichotomy, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd, 2004 2. ERDF: European Regional Development Fund, http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l60015.htm 3. Foreword. State of the Countryside 2008. Commission for Rural Communities, Tackling Rural Disadvantage. 4. In a Nutshell: Spatial Planning. Planning Portal, http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1095180148554.html 5. Living Working Countryside. The Taylor Review. Affordable Housing Drive to Create Rural Renaissance http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/902750.pdf 6. Report on Community Policies and Spatial Planning, Working Document of the Commission Services), http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/reports/pdf/coordfon/report_en.pdf 7. State of the Countryside 2008. Commission for Rural Communities, Tackling Rural Disadvantage. 8. The Government Response to the Taylor Review of Rural Economy and Affordable Housing. Department for Communities and Local Government. 2009. www.communities.gov.uk 9. The largest cities in the world by land area, population and density, Citymayors Statistics, http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/largest-cities-area-125.html 10. The Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013. Defra - Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs, 2009. http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/rdpe/ 11. The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2212.html 12. Welcome to the TFA. Tenants Farmer Associations. http://www.tenant-farmers.org.uk/ 13. What is Spatial Planning http://www.ssiacymru.org.uk/media/doc/1/2/Spatial_Planning_Overview.doc 14. World Urbanization Prospects: The 2007 Revision Population Database, http://esa.un.org/unup/p2k0data.asp Read More