Contradiction Between Democratic Planning Policy and Practice: Case of Sari urban development plan
Dr Bahram Enayati
:Abstract
A broad definition of sustainability emphasises the importance of sustainable urban regeneration based on promoting community well-being. Social capital, consisting of relationships of trust between local government and citizens, can be a very effective tool in urban and neighbourhood regeneration. In countries such as the UK there has been a long history of the development of policies for sustainable regeneration. This has involved the development of more sensitive approaches to the design of urban neighbourhood, the development of urban management to co-ordinate the work of central and local government and of public and private sectors in regeneration, and in the development of public participation as an essential part of sustainable regeneration. Using the case study of Sari (the capital of Mazandaran province in the north of Iran) it is clear that that planning for sustainable urban development in Iran has not benefited from the development of these relationships. Despite the introduction of the recent reform in local government structure in Iran, the government does not play an effective part in creating opportunities for public participation, even though people are willing to participate in their area and in neighbourhood activities. Participation has a long history in civil society generally and in Iran in particular. This paper presents an analysis of urban planning and public participation in urban development schemes in Iran and in Sari. Councils, as the representatives of the public, have not yet achieved a dominating role and strong influence in the local decision-making process of Iranian civil society. The very scattered activities of non-governmental organisations are a sectoral reaction to the weakness of public domain in society. At present, city councils rarely ask people their opinion prior to the approval of the plans, however, without seeing any need for people’s participation, the central government alone takes full responsibility and authority in urban administration
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