Chapter 3. Case Study analysis - District 22 of Tehran
3.1 An overview on urban planning system in Iran
3.1.3 Planning and provision of social infrastructure in Iran
According to the central planning system in Iran, planning & development of social infrastructure is carried out based on a comprehensive approach in the context of urban development plans and under the direct supervision of municipalities as the main
steering authority at the local level. These types of services are normally presented in the form of land uses and activities (e.g. land use maps). Required land is typically calculated according to the per capita standards and allocated in the frame of comprehensive and detailed plans. From the provision/implementation perspective, this is the task of each relevant service provider (including relevant governmental authorities & ministries in national, regional and local level) to physically provide social infrastructures according to urban comprehensive/detailed plans and regulations. In this context, municipalities are responsible for assuring an integrated planning in accordance to the legally binding urban development plan. Their task is also to offer service providers and developers the required building permits and allowances according to rules and regulations including subsequent supervision and approval requirements in different physical development phases.
Figure 30. A schematic view of social infrastructure planning in the Iranian planning system
Source. Khodabakhsh, 2017 (based on energy efficient social infrastructure planning and provision interviews – Annex 1, and reviewing local development plans and regulations18) From a social infrastructure planning perspective, several actors are influential in the planning and provision process. These include governmental and non-governmental organizations as service providers (i.e. ministries and their relevant regional
organizations), municipalities as controlling bodies for permit issuance, supervision and approval as well as private consultancies and investors. While, involved ministries are mostly responsible for developing general sectoral policies, strategies and budgeting, municipalities are more integrated in the spatial planning and implementation process thereof. Put differently, municipalities supervise the integrated planning, management and development of all urban services in their territory through their permits issuance mechanisms in accordance with development plans and physical development
regulations. Each service provider is required to operate under this framework of municipalities. During the process, several consulting engineers, both public and private companies, are hired to support municipalities and service providers for appropriate planning and provision of services (i.e. the physical construction). From planning
instruments perspective, as explained before, both comprehensive and detailed plans are considered as the main enforcement instruments, drawing the required physical and functional features of social infrastructure. The enforcement of comprehensive and detailed plans are guaranteed through a combination of measures, namely: regulations, maps and guidelines.
18 See annex 1.
Social Infrastructures
Municipality Supervision and
control
Service Providers General
negotia-tions
Consultants Preparation of
plan Service Providers
Finance, standards, land etc.
Municipality Supervision and control, permit
issu-ance according to DP
Consultants Construction plans and
implementation
Provision
Planning
Regulation: focusing on physical and functional features, such as: building codes, density and height limits, compatibility of adjacent services and activities.
Maps: drawing the allocation of different services based on existing thresholds standards as well as catchment range analysis
Guidelines and strategies: including short, mid and long term strategies and guidelines for future development of social infrastructure.
In addition, the municipality do not have direct impact in planning and provision of social infrastructure. Its role is limited to provision of land for each of the service providers and issuing building permits as well as control and supervision over the construction in accordance with statutory plans and issued urban development
regulations. In exceptional cases, such as cultural, sport facilities and community centres, the municipality directly contributes in planning and implementation phase.
Looking at the existing municipal structure, there exist no department dedicated to planning, implementation and control of social infrastructure and most of these tasks are being delivered by different department with limited integration mechanisms. The following table gives an overall view of the roles and responsibilities in terms of social infrastructure planning and provision in Iran.
Table 10. Roles and responsibilities in local social infrastructure planning and provision
Who Plans:
Each service provider i.e. the ministries or organizations are responsible for sectoral planning and provision of social infrastructure. Their service development is mandated to fit within the existing frameworks designed by statutory development plans i.e. master and detailed plans. The overall supervision in physical development is the task of municipality.
Who gives the permit:
The municipality is the responsible body for issuing the building permissions in any types of physical development activities in the framework of statutory plans and development regulations.
Who construct:
Depending on the financial and business models, each of the service providers (ministries, organizations) are responsible for implementation of their services.
Private sector contribution in different forms is also a common approach in development of urban services.
Source. Khodabakhsh, 2017 (based on energy efficient social infrastructure planning and provision interviews – Annex 1, and reviewing local development plans and regulations)
Figure below, provides an example of the main tasks and the responsible authorities in the process of social infrastructure planning and provision:
Figure 31. The role of municipalities in planning and provision of social infrastructures
Source. Khodabakhsh, 2017 (based on energy efficient social infrastructure planning and provision interviews – Annex 1, and reviewing local development plans and regulations)
Table below gives an insight of the influential authorities in planning and provision of social infrastructures in Iran.
Request for service Consideration of basic
re-quirements i.e financial sources Need assessment Specific regulations
Permitting Construction
Land suitability assess-ments/analysis based on
legally binding plans
Urban development regu-lations Autonomous organization
(i.e. respective ministries)
Municipalities
Table 11. Local authorities and their contribution to social infrastructure planning and provision
Level the main actors Respective organization field of
intervention
National & regional
Ministries and national departments and organisations
Ministry of Health and Medical Education PN, GNAR
Ministry of Road and Urban Development PN, GNAR
Ministry of Education PN, GNAR
Ministry of Science, Research and Technology PN, GNAR
Ministry of Sport and Youth PN, GNAR
Iran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization PN, GNAR
Ministry of interior PN, GNAR
Urban Development and Architecture High Council PN, GNAR
Building and housing research centre SPNR
Regional Organizations
Health and Medical Education Organization in provinces PR, GPAR Road and Urban Development Organization in provinces PR, GPAR
Education Organization in provinces PR, GPAR
Science, Research and Technology Organization in provinces PR, GPAR Sport and Youth Organization in provinces PR, GPAR Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization in provinces PR, GPAR
Province governor PR, GPAR
Urban Development and Architecture High Council in provinces PR, GPAR, EDP
Commission No 5 EDP
Local
Local planning government Municipalities DU, CS, SPI, SM
City or town councils SM
Local civic/public organizations
NGOS VA, AR
Construction engineering organization CRS, SPI
Neighbourhood councils CLC
Local for profit partners
Property owners
Private PL
Public (mainly the municipality) PL
Governmental PL
Constructor &
planners
Private (i.e. consulting & construction companies) PC Public (i.e. municipalities and their sub-companies) PC Governmental (i.e. Ministries and governmental organizations) PC Service providers
Private SD
Public SD
Governmental SD
Policy making in National level (PN), Supporting Policy making in National level & Research (SPNR), General National Acts and Regulations (GNAR), Policy making in Rational level (PR), Support Policy making in Rational level (SPR), General Rational Acts and Regulations (GRAR), Enacting Urban Development (EDP), Urban development (Spatial Development) (DU), Control Services and facilities (CS), Supervision and Permit Issuance (SPI), Supervision on Municipalities (SM), Voluntary Activities (VA), Awareness Raising (AR), Construction Regulations and Standards (CRS), Provision of Land (PL), Planning and Construction (PC), Service Delivery (SD), Communication with Local authorities and Citizens (CLC)
Source: Khodabakhsh, 2017 (based on energy efficient social infrastructure planning and provision interviews – Annex 1, and reviewing local development plans and regulations)