Greetings to the readers of the August 2023 issue of Urban Design and Planning. It is a privilege to contribute to this editorial, as due to my personal focus on supporting less fortunate communities and based on my experiences in this field, I have found that shedding light on essential aspects related to planning and urban development in contemporary societies is very important. This journal has garnered significant momentum, and as we approach the end of 2023, its impact has been remarkable. In pursuit of further accomplishments, this editorial focuses on a critical aspect that influences community planning profoundly.
The first paper by Onyango et al. (2023) investigates the impact of UK planning system reforms implemented during a period of austerity on the expectations, purposes, and outcomes of planning. To understand this, the researchers conducted an extensive questionnaire involving various stakeholders in the UK-wide planning system. The study reveals that the expected benefits did not materialize. Instead, the reforms led to a loss of experienced staff and capacity, and inadvertently promoted a neoliberal ideology that constrained the reform's objectives and implementation. The paper highlights the importance of being cautious and evidence-driven when implementing planning reforms during periods of austerity, with particular emphasis put on the necessity of carefully considering potential risks.
Authors Abed and Alzghoul (2023) focus in the second paper on the pivotal role played by social sustainability in enhancing the quality of life by fostering positive relations among community members. Despite this crucial aspect aiming to improve residents' well-being, it has not received adequate attention in the housing sector. To address this gap, this study was conducted to evaluate social sustainability in public housing projects with diverse spatial organizations in Jordan. The research utilized an exploratory mixed-method approach to assess social sustainability, looking at social equity, social capital, collective group and network, community stability, pride and sense of place and safety and security. The results demonstrated that spatial organization and design criteria significantly impact social sustainability. Additionally, it was found that other factors, such as the duration of residency, homeownership and appropriate housing unit size relative to family size also influence social sustainability in these public housing projects.
The third paper by AlWaer et al. (2023) discusses the need to provide basic shelter for a large and distressed displaced population often leads to the adoption of a ‘generic top-down framework’ in the design of refugee camps. These camps typically employ humanitarian and techno-managerial planning strategies based on standardized allocations of ‘shelters’ and a grid-based settlement layout. The expectation is that these camps will be dismantled or relocated in the short or medium term. As a result, they take on a modular spatial hierarchy with clearly defined boundaries, resembling military-style layouts. This paper presents a systematic review of publicly available literature focused on the Al-Zaatari Syrian refugee camp in Jordan. Despite the initial imposition of uniformity, the reality on the ground in this camp reveals a rapid transformation driven by collective determination. The UN's strictly orthogonal grid was quickly adapted and reconfigured to support a preferred way of living rooted in the continuation of the refugees' social and cultural norms. The paper illustrates the processes of adaptation and transformation, exploring how the distribution of space among occupants evolved, opportunities for income generation expanded, and new housing typologies and services were introduced. Many of these early interventions were initiated collectively.
In conclusion, social sustainability plays a vital role in achieving balance within any community. However, it is essential to acknowledge and consider the existing differences between communities. The integration of both top-down and bottom-up strategies is critical, but the approach may vary depending on the specific community context. If you have an alternative perspective, now would be an opportune time to discuss it.
