Perception of Town Planners on Town Planning Regulations and Standards in Lagos State (original) (raw)

The study is based on the perception of town planners on town planning regulations and standards in Lagos State. It examined the socio-economic characteristics of town planners; the level of adoption and use of the regulations and standards; the level of effectiveness in managing urban growth and physical development and the socio-dynamism of Lagos State that determines the level of compliance. This was with a view to providing information that could enhance the adoption and compliance for effective urban management in the study area. Data used for the study were collected from primary and secondary sources, where questionnaire were used to collect the primary data. The multi-stage sampling techniques were employed for the study. The first stage involved the stratification of town planners in Lagos State into various professional sectors which are public, private and academics with 533, 48 and 43 town planners respectively. A total number of one hundred and thirty (130) questionnaires were administered, 76 (14.3%) in the public sector, 24 (50.0%) in the private sector and 30 (69.8%) in the academics. In all one hundred and twenty five (125) questionnaires were returned. The result of the study revealed that, majority of the respondents were male with 63.4%, and majority had M.Sc which accounted for 52.0%, majority of the respondents were Principal Town Planning Officer with 20.4%. Also, majority which accounted for 48.0% were between 8-15 years of experience and 49.6% been the largest share were between 1-5 years of professional registration. It is therefore evident in their level of adoption that, 34.5% being the highest use the provisions very often and majority with 34.3% claimed that the provisions are not adequately implemented. The study further ascertained that permissible setbacks, setback to public utilities, permissible developable coverage, permissible dwelling units, parking arrangement, building heights and space standards are adopted in some uses and not in some other uses likewise those once pertaining to petrol filling station and high rise building, it was then obtained that majority were satisfied with the provisions which accounted for 31.7%. Considering environmental sustainability, 42.3% being the largest were satisfied with the provision, and in improving parking arrangement and level of security, majority accounting 52.8% and 65.0% perceived they are fair and just effective respectively. On space management in residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, agricultural, recreational, mixed zones and landscaping, larger percentage which are, 41.7%, 39.0%, 59.3%, 47.2%, 43.1%, 44.7%, 43.9% and 42.3% respectively claimed they are effective. Majority accounting 42.3% are just satisfied that the provisions have been providing solution to environmental hazards. The socio-dynamism in the study area such as cost of land, population density, housing demand and rent are influencing some provisions having their relative influence indices as 3.74, 3.46, 3.54 and 3.45 respectively. The study concluded that the provisions as included in the Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Regulations 2005 are relatively sufficient in managing physical development. However, the level of adoption is considered fair by the respondents particularly for other land uses apart from residential. The study recommends that stricter enforcement be ensured on developers while conscious effort should be applied to embrace the peculiarities of the socio-dynamism of Lagos State in the implementation of the provisions of the regulations and standards for effective urban management.