April 11 th , 2013

1. InternationalConference onHousing: An Engine for Inclusive Growth-Inclusive Housing - Regulatory and Policy Framework of Urban PlanningProf. (DR.) NeelimaRisbud , Dean, School of Planning & Architecture, Delhi April 11th, 2013

2. 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,

3. Development Control regulation (DCR) • Sub Division regulations • Minimum plot size • Coverage • Facility standards • Open space standards • Zoning Regulations • Use reservations • Density • FAR 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.

4. Generally Planning regulations prescribe low density of development andhigh 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. Minimum prescribed Plot Sizes are high

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

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

11. Prescription of high Open Space standards Increases housing costs

12. Reforms in regulations are essential for Inclusion • Compact cities. • Efficient and intensive use of land . • Improving security of tenure to improve market efficiency and improving effective demand for housing finance. • Increase in the consumption of residential floor space per person for improved livability

13. Thanks