Integrating WSUD and mainstream spatial planning approaches: lessons from South Africa

Abstract

Within the notion of broader sustainability and resilience thinking, the concepts of green infrastructure planning and water sensitive urban design (WSUD) are gaining importance. This chapter argues that these concepts should form part of mainstream spatial planning approaches to help ensure its success and legal acknowledgment. As such, this paper considers green infrastructure and WSUD and focuses on the current reality in South Africa in terms of need of WSUD, its application, and implementation and discusses the various unique planning considerations. Based on the current reality, the chapter describes lessons from South Africa in terms of (1) the need for context-driven design guidelines, (2) the importance of social benefits related to WSUD in South Africa, (3) the need of the emerging middle-class South African to be familiar with WSUD approaches, and (4) integrating WSUD as part of mainstream spatial planning