Summary

In this Study Session, you have learned that:

• Urban development causes a change in land cover with decrease in permeable surfaces and increase in hard, impermeable surfaces. The loss of agricultural land adds pressure on the food production system.
• This change in land cover reduces infiltration of rainwater into the ground, increases the rate and volume of surface run-off and may lead to flooding and soil erosion. It may also lead to raised temperatures in cities.
• Urban planning aims to avoid the problems of unplanned development, to design towns and cities that meet the needs of the people who live in them, and to provide a healthy environment.
• Urban planning has complex requirements which include consideration of housing quality and affordability; infrastructure for water, sanitation and waste management; effective drainage systems; and green spaces.