PlanWeb Guide to the Implications for Planners
The Internet has implications for everyone:
- how firms do business.
- how people buy goods and services.
- how people obtain and provide information.
It has particular implications for Planners because it will:
- effect where people live and work.
- influence travel to work and shop.
- reduce the need for activities to congregate in traditional 'centres'.
- provide new ways for organisation to deliver information and services
to the public, developers, agents and other bodies.
So what should the Planner be doing about the Internet? Both understanding
and action will be required:
- time needs to be invested in understanding what the Internet is.
- awareness needs to be cultivated within the organisation as to what
it can offer.
- its limitations, especially its infancy, need to be appreciated.
- a start needs to be made by:
- assessing the implications for future land-use distribution.
- identifying how the Internet can potentially support the organisation's
business objectives.
- experimenting with the technology starting with small steps.
- reviewing future direction on the basis of real experience.
Some example sites which are well worth looking at in this context are:
- London Research Centre
which has just publicised (on-line) its report 'London Local Government
in the Information Society' (sponsored by funding from BT).
- London Borough of Brent which
is the first local authority using the Intenet for on-line consultation
on next year's budget figures and priorities.
- Wandsworth Borough Council
Planning Register which is now available on the Internet.
- Online Planning
from Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, University College, London (maintained
by Andy Smith) which looks at the ways the planning system may change through
the use of the Internet (including public participation and the virtual
city).
- The
CyberCity Initiative from City of Grande Prairie, Alberta Canada which
looks at "ways we might best prepare the City and its residents for
the Information Age" - includes community networks, electronic villages
and information projects.
- UK Citizens Online Democracy
which is a discussion forum for anyone interested in using the Internet
to participate in the political process.
Spotted any other examples which show the implications for Planners?
PlanWeb is designed by Town Planners for Town Planners
and the Land and Property Professions. Our site is experimental so please
send us feed-back on what you think, together with any items of Internet
News, interesting sites, or other topics which you would like to see included.
If you've spotted any sites, reports, documents etc. which we've missed
out , which are good examples of the implications which the internet may
have for us as Planners, then please let us know.
E-mail to Peter Thorpe
at peter@ptcon.co.uk
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