Integration in spatial planning : case study of the Cape Town Metropolitan spatial development framework

• Main Author: Shepherd, Desiree
• Other Authors: Dewar, Neil
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2014
• Subjects: Environmental and Geographical Science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6945

Bibliography: leaves 130-139. === It is the underlying position of this thesis that -sustainable development embraces the concept of integrating economic, social, environmental, demographic and political issues. High levels of poverty and previous unequal access to resources and power in South Africa emphasise the need for an integrated approach, with a critical focus on democracy, participation and transformation of institutions. Sustainable development requires trade-offs, for example through regulatory frameworks. City managers use these frameworks provide a just and equitable means for informed, integrated and sustainable decision-making. The thesis, in terms of theory and precedent attempts to derive an understanding of What integration is in terms of the broader context of sustainable development and how it is perceived in both Spatial Planning and Strategic Environmental Assessment processes. although both have, at times, common objectives, they have different rationales and the assumption is made that spatial planners believe their procedures and methods pare sufficient for the integration of biophysical, social and economic issues. The question is: how is it possible to ascertain whether integrated planning is occurring? The intention of this thesis is to evaluate the extent of integration which occurred in the Cape Town Metropolitan Spatial Development Framework (MSDF). The Integration Framework is used as a tool to evaluate the MSDF - it constitutes five dimensions, substantive, methodological, procedural, institutional and policy integration. These provide the criteria for determining the extent to which integration has occurred in the MSDF. The MSDF process was initiated in 1991 and was the first planning exercise attempting to change the city structure and reverse the legacy of apartheid. It took into account the unique environment of the Cape, its people and the economy; the plan itself was prepared during a period of political, legislative, institutional and social change. The MSDF was adopted in 1996 by the Cape Metropolitan Council. An Environmental Evaluation was also done for the first time at metropolitan level, giving the spatial planning process a new dimension.