What is urban planning? Types of urban planning

1. What is urban planning?

Urban planning is the organization of space, architecture, urban landscape, technical infrastructure system, social infrastructure and housing to create a suitable living environment for people living in urban areas, expressed through urban planning projects.

(Clause 4, Article 3, Law on Urban Planning 2009)

2. Types of urban planning

According to Clause 1, Article 18 of the 2009 Law on Urban Planning (amended in 2018), urban planning includes the following types:

- General planning is established for centrally-run cities, provincial cities, towns, townships and new urban areas.

The general planning of a centrally-run city specifies the provincial planning established in a centrally-run city on spatial organization, systems of technical infrastructure works, social infrastructure works and housing for the centrally-run city;

- Zoning plans are made for areas within cities, towns and new urban areas;

- Detailed planning is made for the area according to development requirements, urban management or construction investment needs.

Technical infrastructure planning is a content in the general planning project, zoning planning project, detailed planning project; for centrally-run cities, technical infrastructure planning is established separately as a specialized technical infrastructure planning project.

(Clause 2, Article 18, Law on Urban Planning 2009)

3. Requirements for urban planning

Article 6 of the Law on Urban Planning 2009 (amended 2018) stipulates requirements for urban planning as follows:

- Specify urban and rural system planning, regional planning, provincial planning; consistent with socio-economic development, national defense and security strategies; consistent with national planning, regional planning, provincial planning; ensure publicity, transparency and harmonious combination between national, community and individual interests.

- Scientific forecasting, meeting practical requirements and in line with urban development trends; complying with urban planning standards and other relevant standards.

- Protect the environment, prevent disasters affecting the community, improve the landscape, preserve cultural and historical relics and local characteristics through strategic environmental assessment in the urban planning process.

- Exploit and use natural resources rationally, limit the use of agricultural land, use urban land economically and effectively to create resources for urban development, economic growth, ensure social security, national defense, security and sustainable development.

- Ensure synchronization of architectural space, social infrastructure system, urban technical infrastructure and underground space; harmonious development between urban areas.

- Meet the needs of housing, medical, educational, cultural, sports, commercial facilities, parks, trees, water surfaces and other social infrastructure works.

- Meet the needs of using technical infrastructure including transportation systems, energy supply, public lighting, water supply, drainage, waste treatment, communications and other technical infrastructure works.

Ensure connectivity and consistency between technical infrastructure systems in urban areas and connectivity with regional, national and international technical infrastructure works.

4. Prohibited acts in urban planning

Prohibited acts under Article 16 of the 2009 Law on Urban Planning (amended 2018) include:

- Failure to fulfill responsibility for urban planning.

- Choosing an urban planning consultancy organization that does not meet the capacity requirements.

- Establishing, appraising, approving and adjusting urban planning not in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Urban Planning.

- Illegal interference in urban planning activities.

- Refusal to provide information, except in cases where the information is a state secret; providing incorrect information on urban planning.

- Intentionally violating approved urban planning.

- Destroying space, architecture and urban landscape.

- Placing incorrect boundary markers; destroying or distorting urban planning boundary markers.

- Obstructing and causing difficulties in the establishment and implementation of urban planning.