Urban Design in the Real Estate Development Process

Part I: Introduction. Part II: Information tools. Market-shaping actions seek to shape real estate markets by providing the general rules-of-the-game, thereby shaping the general context for decision-making. 2. Market structuring actions: e.g. rule-of-law (property rights). 3. Information-provision actions. e.g. definition and identification ('listing') of 'historic' buildings; definition and identification of conservation areas; good practice notes; plans. 4. Coordination actions: e.g. development plans; regulatory plans; indicative plans (e.g. masterplans; development frameworks; design/development briefs). 5. (Macro) State (public) investment actions e.g. major infrastructure provision (LRT, trams) Part III: Market regulating tools/actions. Market-regulating actions affect decisions by restricting the set of choices available - either by compelling an activity, prohibiting it or prohibiting aspects of it. 6. Regulatory systems. e.g. planning/development (zoning, discretionary; separated, integrated); highways; historic preservation. § 7. Enforcement actions. § 8. Regulatory procedures. e.g. deregulation; "smart" regulation; streamlining of regulatory systems; sifting applications (fast track for applications submitted by architect). Part IV: Market stimulating tools/actions. While regulatory actions generally stop things from happening, market-stimulating actions increase the likelihood of something happening. While regulations put parameters around (and, thereby, constrain) the actor's decision environment, market stimulating actions change the pattern of incentives within the decision environment making some strategies more (or less) advantageous to particular market actors. 9. Direct state actions. e.g. land sales (with/without conditions attached); infrastructure improvements; land assembly, subdivision and parcelisation. 10. Price-adjusting actions. e.g. imposition of taxes; tax credits/incentives/breaks (with design strings); subsidies/grants (with design strings). 11. Risk-adjusting actions. e.g. creation of more secure investment environment (through policy stability, investment actions, place management). 12. Capital-raising actions. . Part V: Capacity building tools/actions. Market-shaping, market regulation and market stimulating mechanisms are only as good as the people involved. Thus, while capacity building actions could be regarded simply as further forms of market-shaping or market-stimulating tools but better seen as means of facilitating (better) operation of other urban design tools.13. Developing human capital. e.g. on-job training; CPD, expert seminars; post-experience/postgraduate education; exposure to good practice, field visits; role models; inspirational "others" (e.g. design champions). 14. Building informal networks. e.g. cross-disciplinary groups (Urban Design Alliance); job swaps - public-to-private, private-to-public; behavioural economics. 15. Building institutional and organisational capacity. e.g. Architecture Centres; CABE; A&DS; place management organisations. 16. Changing mindsets and cultures. e.g. encouraging blue-skies thinking; thinking-outside-the-box; facilitating mindshifts; creativity and idea generation (e.g. through competitions); increasing receptivity to new ideas; changing/challenging images and perceptions of places. . Part VI : Conclusions