Types Town Planning

To maintain the continuity in the planning process, the following five forms of planning are to be considered.

1.    Local planning

2.    Country planning

3.    Regional planning

4.    National planning

5.    International planning

1) Local Planning

• The development plan of a city or town is prepared by keeping in view the local conditions.
• It aims at proper distribution of population densities, regulation of traffic, location of shopping and recreational centres, provision of green belt, suitable division of area in various zones, etc.
• Local planning is influenced by economic conditions and finances available for the development of the town.

2) Country Planning

• The area surrounding a town cannot be allowed to develop in a haphazard way.
• Generally, a town is surrounded by villages and rural planning becomes necessary for proper functioning of the town.
• The surrounding village is linked up with suitable transport system in country planning.
• Village industries such as dairy, poultry farming, basket and rope making, weaving, etc. are encouraged.
• A proper balance between the agricultural and industry should be maintained without disturbing the character of rural area.
• Country planning and town planning are related to each other and cannot be treated as two separate entities.

3) Regional Planning

• It includes proposals in a region for the distribution of population, industry, transport facility, rural services, etc.
• The regional planning helps in controlling and reshaping the growth of major towns in the region.
• In general, a region may be defined as an area within which interaction is more intense than its interaction with other areas and the modern practice is to include the following in regional planning.

1.      Agricultural regions.

2.      Industrial areas.

3.      Large hydro-electric power stations.

4.      Resort and recreational areas.

5.      Suburban zones of cities.

The regional planning is necessary for the following reasons.

• To ensure profitable utilization of the resources at minimum expense for maximum benefit.
• It gives the information regarding the economic functions.
• It gives the local planners knowledge of relationship between the areas of the region, which will help them in planning.
• It allows planned and harmonious development of the national economy.
• It reveals new town planning and building principles.
• It serves as a link of co-operation and co-ordination between the areas of the region.

4) National Planning

• It suggests the setting up of the planning procedure on a national level.
• By proper and careful national planning, the resources of national importance like railways, irrigation projects, heavy industries, hydro-electric works, etc. can be utilized in the best possible manner.
• Developments is from top level to bottom level, that is international level to local level or vice-versa.
• Developments in terms of various economic sectors such as agricultural, fishing, forestry, mining, quarrying, etc.
• Developments in terms of various social sectors such as clothing, housing, food, education, health, employment, recreation, etc.

 5) International Planning

• With the establishment of United Nations Organization (UNO), the international planning has come into existence and efforts are made at international level to promote goodwill and co-operation between different countries of the world.
• The various agencies appointed by UNO conduct surveys in various fields of human life such as education, health, housing, food, etc. such surveys helps in finding out remedies and solutions of complicated problems at an international level.