On the impact of urban planning in contexts with limited enforcement of building and planning regulations

This article titled On the impact of urban planning in contexts with limited enforcement of building and planning regulations: A study of the urban form of planned and unplanned informal settlements in Maputo, Mozambique addresses the challenges posed by informal settlements, which house over one billion people globally, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. These settlements often lack state recognition, and continue to be characterised by unsafe construction, inadequate infrastructure access, and insecure tenure. The paper explores the potential long-term impact of urban planning in contexts characterised by limited enforcement of building and planning regulations through a comparison of adjacent planned and unplanned settlements in Maputo, Mozambique. Utilising UAVs and GPS trackers, the study analyses high-resolution geo-referenced orthophotos to compute urban form metrics and conducts a qualitative investigation based on visual inspection of the urban fabrics. While not delving into socio-economic dimensions, the research emphasises the spatial outcomes of urban planning in areas with limited institutional capacity. By documenting the lasting effects of planning on urban form, the study aims to enhance decision-making in contexts marked by informal urban development, with broader implications beyond Mozambique and sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract based directly on source.