Towards integrating urban conservation and urban development : Klerksdorp as a case study

Abstract

The world is undergoing the largest wave of urban growth in history due to rapid urbanisation. Urbanisation results in development pressure on existing infrastructure and numerous existing buildings are being destroyed in the process. Many of these existing buildings are part of the heritage of the town or city and are therefore valuable heritages. Built environment heritage resources are important in the urban environment due to their historical, aesthetic and social value. Integrating these resources into urban development is currently a worldwide challenge, even more so in developing countries such as South Africa that has one of the highest urbanisation rates in the world. Past theoretical and legislative frameworks used in urban development and urban conservation, represent a segregated approach. One of the reasons for the disintegration of urban conservation and urban development is the spatial models many cities and towns developed according to. These models include the Concentric Zone model, Multiple Nuclei model and Sector model (classical models) as well as the South African Apartheid model. These models resulted in fragmented urban environments in which older areas became abandoned or not acknowledged. This led to many heritage resources being destroyed. In response to the fragmented nature of urban development, post-modern models (such as New Urbanism, Smart Growth and the Compact City) became popular planning and design models to create more integrated towns and cities. A second reason for the segregated approach to urban conservation and urban development is urban conservation paradigms and theories that have treated built environment heritage resources as isolated objects in the urban environment in the past (in other words the focus was on the object and not its broader context). Recent theories moved towards more integrated approaches in which sustainability and resilience form overall goals for the urban environment while development and conservation needs are balanced. The fragmented nature of historical urban conservation paradigms and theories are also reflected in the evolution of policy and legislation that guide the urban development and conservation of built environment heritage resources. Urban development and conservation have a long history of being guided by separated policies and legislation. The South African planning system is still influenced by modernistic roots in which built environmental heritage resources are being treated as isolated objects in the urban environment. However, recent international and South African policies and legislation have started to acknowledge the importance of integrating urban development and urban conservation. Urban planning regulates urban development and can be seen as an integrative tool. With the aforementioned in mind, the main research question that guided the study is: How can urban development and urban conservation be integrated? The main purpose of the research was to develop a framework for integrating urban conservation and urban development, with special reference to built environment heritage resources. The case study was based on Klerksdorp in the North-West Province, South Africa. In Klerksdorp, balancing urban development and conservation is a challenge, as both these are priorities. Klerksdorp is located on the N12 Treasure Corridor - one of the main development corridors in South Africa. Furthermore, Klerksdorp is one of the oldest towns in the province and it contains numerous important heritage resources that need to be conserved. In the case of Klerksdorp, a segregated approach to urban development and conservation exists as portrayed in the spatial development framework as well as various planning and management processes. A framework is proposed to integrate built environment heritage resources in urban development in which urban planning can play a proactive role. The framework suggests a three-tier system of integration namely spatial integration, an integrated management system and integrated planning processes using the Spatial Development Framework and Land Use Management System as tools. The proactive inclusion and involvement of various role players is emphasised in this framework. A few building blocks are suggested in order to develop a more integrated approach to urban development and urban conservation. Building blocks include the following: a Cultural Management Plan (CMP), the proactive involvement of community members, increased support from local government, educating people about urban conservation, branding built environment heritage resources as assets in urban development, a proper heritage policy and a strategy for adaptive re-use