The Challenge

In many parts of the developing world, the demand for housing far exceeds the capacity of governments to provide adequate infrastructure. Consequently, residential and commercial buildings often emerge rapidly, outpacing proper planning and development.

This lack of planning leads to the proliferation of shanty towns, where basic amenities and structural integrity are lacking. Typically, those constructing these new buildings lack the financial resources and technical expertise required to plan sustainable communities.

As a result, informal settlements expand, exacerbating issues related to health, safety, and environmental degradation.

Proposal Objective

This framework aims to curb the growth of shanty towns by introducing a basic, easy-to-understand design framework that serves as a guideline for:

Estate Developers

Professionals planning larger residential developments

Builders

Construction teams implementing the physical structures

Homeowners

Individuals building or modifying their own dwellings

Land Sellers

Those parceling and selling land for development

Guidelines for Sustainable Community Development

Plot and Spacing Requirements

Minimum Plot Size: 500 square meters to ensure adequate space for construction, utilities, and green areas
Minimum Distance Between Houses: 10 meters to ensure privacy, ventilation, and access to sunlight
Alignment of Houses: Must form a continuous path without encroaching on access roads

Road Network Planning

Community Roads: Minimum width of 15 meters to facilitate traffic flow and provide safe pedestrian pathways
Access Roads: For every five parallel community roads, include one main access road with a minimum width of 30 meters
Freeways: After every ten access roads, incorporate a freeway with a minimum width of 50 meters
Preservation of Access: Designated paths must remain clear and unobstructed

Public Amenities

For every ten access roads, designate spaces for essential public amenities:

Schools

Minimum of 1 hectare per school

Bus Parks

Minimum of 0.5 hectares

Sports Centers

Minimum of 1 hectare

Markets

Minimum of 0.5 hectares per market area

Green Spaces & Utilities

Green Space Allocation: At least 10% of total community area dedicated to parks and green spaces
Utility Corridors: Must be at least 5 meters wide and placed underground where feasible
Public Service Points: Each property must provide designated connection points at the boundary

Community Involvement & Flexibility

Resident Engagement: Involve local residents in planning and implementation processes
Advisory Board: Establish a community advisory board for ongoing input
Adaptive Design: Allow flexibility in plot sizes and layouts to accommodate specific community needs

Building Design Standards

Room Design Guidelines

Room Size: Minimum 12 square meters for first occupant + 6 square meters for each additional occupant
Window Size: At least 10% of room's floor area for natural light
Ventilation: Minimum 0.5 square meters of openable window area per occupant
Ceiling Height: Minimum 2.4 meters for proper air circulation
Emergency Egress: At least one window or door that can serve as emergency exit

Lavatory Requirements

Minimum Number of Lavatories:

1-3 occupants: At least 1 full bathroom
4-6 occupants: At least 1 full bathroom and 1 half bathroom
7-10 occupants: At least 2 full bathrooms

Full Bathroom

Includes toilet, sink, and shower or bathtub

Half Bathroom

Includes toilet and sink

Structural Requirements

Foundation

Minimum depth of 1 meter below ground level

Wall Thickness

Exterior walls minimum 20 centimeters thick

Roofing

Minimum slope of 15 degrees for proper drainage

Door Sizes

Main entrance: 90cm wide; Interior: 75cm wide

Staircases

Width: 90cm; Risers: max 20cm; Treads: min 25cm

Fire Safety

Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, marked escape routes

Private Communities

Private communities have flexibility to determine specific aspects like house spacing and road widths, provided they don't contradict building codes.

Size Requirements

Must span at least the space between two access roads

Infrastructure

Must provide basic utilities: water, electricity, sewage systems

Access

Cannot block or restrict access to main roads

Compliance

Must comply with general safety and building codes

Environmental Considerations

Noise Level Guidelines by Area Type

Area Type	Daytime Limit	Nighttime Limit
Residential Areas	55 dB (7am-10pm)	45 dB (10pm-7am)
Commercial Areas	65 dB	55 dB
Industrial Areas	75 dB	65 dB
Parks & Recreation	60 dB	50 dB
Sports Facilities	70 dB	60 dB
Healthcare Facilities	50 dB	40 dB

Measurement and Compliance

Noise levels measured at property boundary
Regular monitoring and enforcement ensures adherence
Temporary exceptions may be granted with prior notification

Enforcement Framework

Community-Based Enforcement Model

Decentralized Approach

Enforcement delegated to the community, ensuring better oversight, fostering a thriving ecosystem, and creating employment opportunities

Violation Reporting System

Any individual can report violations through a dedicated portal
Reports require evidence as specified in reporting guidelines
System accessible to all community members

Verification Process

Reports verified by accredited agents to ensure legitimacy
Process prevents duplicate submissions and system misuse
Verifying agents pre-accredited by government agencies

Incentive Structure

Percentage of collected fines awarded to reporters and verifying agents
Encourages community involvement in maintaining standards
Penalties for frivolous reports maintain system integrity

Resolution Process

Violation notices include due dates for correction
Fines double if not addressed by deadline
Violations must be rectified before fines can be paid
Dispute resolution mechanism available for contested cases

Implementation Strategy

Local Stakeholder Collaboration

Partner with local governments, NGOs, and community leaders to promote widespread adoption

Pilot Programs

Launch test projects in selected areas to demonstrate effectiveness and gather feedback

Education & Training

Conduct workshops for builders and homeowners on sustainable building techniques

Continuous Improvement

Regularly update framework based on community feedback and emerging best practices

Conclusion

This framework represents a comprehensive approach to addressing the critical challenge of unplanned urban development in developing countries.

By providing clear, accessible guidelines for community design and building standards, it empowers local stakeholders to create sustainable urban environments without requiring extensive resources or technical expertise.

The community-based enforcement model ensures that compliance is maintained through local involvement rather than relying solely on centralized government oversight, creating a self-sustaining system of accountability.

Through collaborative implementation and continuous improvement, this framework has the potential to transform urban development practices and prevent the proliferation of shanty towns, improving quality of life for millions of people.