Ever thought of why it's easy to navigate your way through a newly constructed city? You can thank an urban planner. Lack of proper planning in town centres may lead to confusion in infrastructure facilities and road network systems, which is a negative factor on the development of any economy. Urban planners, also called regional planners, work with their city residents and local government officials to determine the specific needs of each area to implement the necessary improvements. The planning of such changes is always tasking and complex in nature. Therefore, urban planners must take some critical factors into consideration. Here are some key factors that town planners must be sensitive about when conducting the process.

Environment

All urban planners must be sensitive about the nature of environment of the centre to be developed. The process involves adding a strange space to an existing community and is completed in three categories.

The Social Environment

One of the most crucial components involved in the revitalisation and expansion of a town or city is the existing social fabric. All urban planners must be keen on the current availability of resources to different demographics of the city, like public transport systems.

The Physical Environment

This comprises the location and geological history of the city or town under expansion planning process. For instance, a desert town with no plantation at all may have different needs from another town with plenty of green space. This means that the planner must also consider the climatic trends and conditions of the town as they affect proximity to water and food resources.

The Economic Environment

City planners must identify the economic factors that may hinder or help the development of the town. This will help determine the number and type of businesses, as they greatly affect how the city is laid out.

Residents

The current urban planning process has developed from the use of blueprints to the use of goals of a particular region. Participatory planning that involves residents of the region improves public awareness about the current plans of their city.

Forward Thinking Plans

As focus is put on current residents, urban planners must also consider the future. For instance, the population trends must be critically analysed from the past to the current, to help determine the nature of growth curve, which will help predict the future. This helps in coming up with a town centre that can serve for ages before thinking of another planning process.