THE ROLE OF PLANNERS AND PLANNING IN SHAPING URBAN SPACE

Abstract

The role of planning and planners in shaping urban space has been sharply contested in recent years. It has been argued, for example, that contemporary cities are shaped by forces that can no longer be controlled or influenced by planners. There are, however, also indications that planning has resurfaced fairly vigorously in parts of the world. This paper explores the historical and contemporary role of planning and planners in South Africa by using the KwaZulu-Natal town of Port Shepstone as a case study. It shows that there are diverse and complex relationships between planning and urban form, and that simplistic conclusions regarding the role of planners should be avoided. While planners are not the driving force determining urban development, they still play a significant role in shaping urban space.

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