The Royal Town Planning Institute and the Commonwealth Association of Planners are strongly aware of the need for development to be better integrated spatially and are contributing to the international discussion about how to make this happen. We think it is vital that practitioner insights into the challenges and barriers facing planning, and into what works in practice - and what does not work - feed into future initiatives to build global planning capacity. 

As partners in the Global Planners Network (GPN), and following the commitment made in the Vancouver Declaration which founded the GPN, RTPI and CAP have been working since March 2008 on a project to assess the world's capacity for planning. 

The first results of this work were presented at the GPN Congress in Zhenjiang, China from 31 October to 2 November 2008.  RTPI researchers Will French and Lucy Natarajan were part of the RTPI delegation to this meeting led by the President Janet O'Neill. Read their report or the summary.

The delegation is shown here in front of the engraved stone setting out the GPN commitment:; Building on the 2006 Vancouver Declaration, the Global Planners Network steers towards harmonious settlements, places in harmony with nature and places where there is harmony between people. We champion planning as a strategic, integrative, inclusive and pro-poor process. As a tool for urban development and environmental management, effective planning alleviates poverty, reduces inequality, slows down slum formation, mitigates hazards and builds safe, inclusive settlements. We leave Zhenjiang renewing our commitment to increase the global capacity to plan and manage settlements in timely, affordable and harmonious ways. We will continue to bring planners together and strengthen their links with communities, professionals, politicians and civil society to enhance the quality and future resilience of human settlements.

The research continues and has now moved into a new phase. First, there are some detailed reports: a survey of the responses from Latin America, a briefing on issues of poverty and inequality, and an assessment of skills required.  Next, responding to many heartfelt requests in the responses, we are working towards the creation of an on-line community of planners: a website where planners can exchange knowledge and experience, raise questions and start discussions.  To read the latest newsletter about this part of the project, please click here.