EXCEPT planning approval processes are reviewed to sooth the prevailing city growth, the work of urban designers, predominantly, architects, and all stakeholders in the building industry, whose efforts are geared towards seeing the Nigeria space transformed into urban settlement will continue to be a mirage, the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Lagos Chapter, has said.

In a communique issued after the Lagos Architects Forum 2013 (LAF 2013), NIA said the time to ensure total review of the planning approval process is now. According to them, the building approval process needed to be simplified to ensure speedy project delivery, which impacts positively on the overall economy of the city.

Under the theme of the Conference “LAGOS 4.0, Architecture and Urban Design’’ the architects said that planning laws must be reviewed to make them compliant with global best practices.

Still on planning, NIA said that the inability of professionals to have access to requisite planning documents that may guide and specify building regulation requirements, under their efforts on city planning and urban design, as the various levies made to government for approval process is enormous and hinders development in Lagos State.

The 5th edition of LAF conference, which had about 1000 participants, had attendees from the public service, private practice, academia, allied professionals in the built environment, manufacturers and suppliers of building materials.

The theme focused on evolving an efficient urban space via the art of creating and shaping of cities in three dimensional form and character to make them livable and sustainable through the application of planned multiple buildings, public spaces, transport systems and infrastructure in the public sphere.

Scientific sessions with seasoned professionals on topics ranging from planning in urban centres, international standards in planning and development processes, introduction to urban design, urban spaces and social conflict, urban projects with case study in Dubai, real estate development and mass housing, made some observations on militating against urbanisation including absence of collective ownership gives rise to urban social conflict and private developments of iconic standards are not surrounded contextually by supportive facilities that may enhance their urban value.

Also, they observed that bureaucratic bottlenecks created at the approval authority with the time line for obtaining approval is unduly long, which impacts negatively on the life of the project and overall economy of the city.

They recommended that there must be integrated, planning which takes into cognizance the way of life and culture of the people so that it reflects on the urbanization of the city as well as involvement local participation to meet the challenge of attaining a fluid Urbanization process.

“There is need to foster collaboration amongst professionals to create sustainable and prosperous urbanization and review the historical development of public housing concepts which have thus far created social conflicts of isolation.

“Cities should be planned appropriately for economic growth as they affect the productivity of the people; Involvement of local content participation to meet the challenges presently faced by conventional construction, by exploring alternative construction systems, which aid speed and efficiency.

“A checklist of building approval requirements should be made available to architects’ firms to enable them comply with requisite building regulation requirements from the conceptual stage, which will cut down on time required to secure building approval.”

They also demanded the inclusion of pre-screening sessions with the local planning officers prior to submission of documents for planning permit / planning approval process and access to master plan as well as planning information and regulations.

In their overall submission, the architects called all stakeholders and managers of the city to conscientiously leverage on the city’s potential as well as the strategic position Lagos has in our natural system, adding that, if given the best of attention, the quantum leap of development will be significant and sustainable.

In his goodwill message, NIA president, Mr. Ibrahim Haruna, said the theme of the conference was timely, as urban design is one missing link the nation’s land space. “the theme is apt considering out town and urban spaces on one hand and the reality of urbanisation on the other hand. I am of the strong opinion that urban design is the missing link between huge investments especially since the 70s and sprawls of peripheries, shapelessness of the intervening spaces and decay of most Nigerian urban centre.”

Earlier, in his keynote address by Brig. Gen. (rtd) Tunde Reis, he said there was need to situate iconic buildings within their urban context, which may create a hub towards developing such urban space.

In his paper, he stated that all professionals are saddled with the responsibility of driving urban development, and there could not have been a better time to have a concerted effort than now in view of the challenges of globalization, climate change, urban sprawl and economic recession.