Sustainable Urban Planning

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through their engagement of improving techniques for ‘creative reasoning’ at the
decision stage, by the use of heuristic styles of ‘creative incubation’ at the design
stage, by adhering to an ‘ethical canon’ (box 1.4) and above all else by holding to
the ideals of economic growth with social wellbeing and environmental harmony.
Robinson, Francis, Legge and Lerner, writing (1990) on the values and princi-
ples of ‘sustainability’, set out views about the make-up of participants for sus-
tainable development, and or also, for the conservancy process:


To engage in good responsible design-making requires a
minimum level of material and political equality and social justice,
including equality of opportunity to realise one’s full human
potential, adequate material wealth, recourse to an open and
just legal system, and freedom from political repression. It also
depends on access to high quality education at all age levels,
coupled with effective access to information. Other important
characteristics are freedom of religion, speech and assembly.

While reasoning and incubation techniques can be learned (because they are
experiential) they are difficult to impart, to teach. The earlier passages on brain-


Knowledge Power Outcomes 67

A good concept, but ‘now’ is not the right time.
It’s too late to alter established procedure.
I just knowit’s notwhat the public want.
This has been tried and it ‘failed’.
We are not big (wealthy) enough to alter our format.
This suggestion sounds fine in theory, but it simply won’t work!
We cannot afford the extra research staff and lead-time.
Remember, profit is always the bottom line!
I ‘think’ this concept will be too expensive.
A good idea maybe, but you will never sell it.
It’s always been done this way, why change now.
Later maybe, but not now, please.
We have no wish to be ‘guinea pigs’.
Here, people like things the way they are.
Why change at all? Who needschange?
We do not wish to put off (landowners/ developers/ investors)
It may not be efficient, but technology will rescue us.
What do these (immigrant/ outsider) upstarts know about ...?
I always reckoned she was too big for her boots!
Why change even if ‘they’ prove it is (cheaper/ safer/ better)?
How come, if this is a good idea, my father didn’t think of it?
If it involves me, count me out.

Figure 2.7 Listing of ‘new idea’ killers


Based on a similar listing produced by the Work Psychology Department of the Danish Taastrup
Technological Institute. Made available’ by Professor Husingh of Erasmus University (1992).


Use community
networks
Supply information
Listen carefully
Notify early
Educate
See
Encourage
Develop skills
Be independent
Use informal channels
Be politically sensitive
J. Forester, 1980,
‘Critical Theory and
Planning Practice’

Also consult:


  • Rebels Against the
    Future, Kirkpatrick
    Sale, 1996.

  • Fear of Falling,
    Barbara Ehrenreich,
    1989.

  • The Corrosion of
    Character, Richard
    Sennett, 1998.

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