Over 66% of South Africa’s population live in urban areas which continue to attract large parts of the population. Adequately addressing the development and regeneration of land, infrastructure, transport, services, waste management and other expanding urban and rural needs requires careful consideration, particularly to tackle fractured land systems and inherited spatial disparities in South Africa. Land use planning plays a pivotal role in regulating the use and development of land and its individual components to create equitable, healthy and sustainable living environments.
Land use planners often engage with developers, communities and specialists in engineering, architecture, social science and the environment around land use projects. They work in an office, occasionally conducting field investigations to analyse factors contributing to the development or decline of a land area.
Land use planners must have a thorough knowledge of land use trends and patterns, urban spatial designs and an understanding of socio-ecological and economic spatial relationships. They can also benefit from:
Plan the layout and coordinate the development of urban and other land use areas
Research and report on current and historical spatial relationships
Review proposals for developments ensuring compliance with regulations
Consult with landowners, interest groups, citizens and stakeholders
B.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc. in Urban and Regional Planning at NWU and Wits
B., B. (Hons), M. in Urban and Regional Planning at UFS, UJ, UKZN, UP and Univen
Diploma, Advanced Diploma, MTech in Town and Regional Planning at CPUT and DUT
National, provincial and local government.
Property development firms.
Research institutions.
Private consultancies.
