Anaclaudia Rossbach warns urban master plans fail to address future housing needs

Current urban master plans often fail to address future housing needs or how housing will be distributed across city territories.

This was said by Anaclaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, who made the remarks during a parliamentary roundtable on “How Can National Legislation Translate Global Housing Commitments into Real Results?” at the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), CE Report informs via Trend News Agency.

Rossbach said that existing financial flows to cities often fail to serve all citizens and, in some cases, exacerbate social inequality and spatial segregation.

“Existing subsidies are sometimes inconsistent with local plans. City master plans do not account for future housing needs or their placement within territories. As a result, subsidies are directed to city outskirts, uncontrolled urban sprawl occurs, and socially unsustainable urbanization develops. Low-income residents are forced to live far from city centers, spending more time and money on transportation and losing access to opportunities. Children are also deprived of opportunities. This creates additional infrastructure costs and places further burdens on the environment,” she said.

Rossbach emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach: “Legislation and regulations that properly guide urban development and housing policy at national, regional, and local levels are essential to ensure balanced development and meet real needs. Even with political will in the executive branch, results will be limited if parliaments are not actively involved in the process, and vice versa.”

She noted that at the conclusion of WUF13, the “Baku Call to Action,” the final document of the ministerial meeting under Azerbaijani chairmanship, and the “World Cities Report” will be presented.

Photo Trend News Agency