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FAR: Growth Management in Dhaka

This document discusses floor area ratio (FAR) as a new growth management technique for Dhaka City. It provides background on growth management and development control measures used in cities to regulate land use and density. FAR expresses the mathematical relationship between the volume of a building and the unit of land. The authors assess how FAR introduced in Dhaka's new building rules could contribute to growth management by enhancing environmental, social, and aesthetic neighborhood values. However, they note that proper implementation of FAR will be challenging and require skilled oversight of development activities.

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100% found this document useful (1 vote)
102 views10 pages

FAR: Growth Management in Dhaka

This document discusses floor area ratio (FAR) as a new growth management technique for Dhaka City. It provides background on growth management and development control measures used in cities to regulate land use and density. FAR expresses the mathematical relationship between the volume of a building and the unit of land. The authors assess how FAR introduced in Dhaka's new building rules could contribute to growth management by enhancing environmental, social, and aesthetic neighborhood values. However, they note that proper implementation of FAR will be challenging and require skilled oversight of development activities.

Uploaded by

Tahmidur Rahman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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JahangirnagarPlanningReview

Vol.6,June2008,pp.4956,JahangirnagarUniversity

ISSN17284198

FARasaDevelopmentControlTool:ANewGrowth
ManagementTechniqueforDhakaCity

AdilMohammedKhan

Md.AkterMahmud
Abstract

Growthmanagemntintheformofdevelopmentcontrolmeasureswereintroducedtolimitthe
densityofanareaandregulatetheuseoflandaspertheplan.Withtheinrceaseofpopulation
agglomerationthesizeofcitygrows,marketofproductexpands,eonomicactivitiesincreasesbut
this process have to make a tradeoff with the environmental quality, pollution and other
negativeexternalities.Itisalwaysverycrucialforplannerstoscrutinizetheplanningpermission
applicationscarefullywhileaccomodatingnewdevelopment.Aslandisascarcenaturalresource,
cityplannersintroducedanumberofdevelopmentcontrolmechanismsforoptimumuseofland
without compromising with the citys environment, beauty, comfort and safety though these
mechanismsaredifferentincitiesasthecontextdemands.Thispaperinvestigatesandassesses
howfartheFloorAreaRatio(FAR),anewlyintroduceddevelopmentcontrolmeasuresinDhaka,
willcontributeasatechniqueofgrowthmanagementandhowmuchitwillbeeffectiveinsolving
the problems of Dhaka City and enhance the environmental, social and aesthetic value of a
neighbourhood. The FAR technique has been enacted with a hope that its successful
implementation will bring benefits to the city dwellers. It would be a great challenge for the
developmentauthorityofDhakaCitytoimplementtherulesofFARastheyhaveconstraintsof
skilledmanpowertomonitorthosedevelopmentactivities.

Introduction
Executionofplanningrulesbytheconcernedauthoritiesandexertionofresponsibilities
of the plot owners in various levels of Dhaka City has frustrated the city dwellers.
Mahmud(2007)haspointedoutthatabout94%ofthebuildingsofthiscityinsomeway
haveviolatedtheBuildingConstructionRules(BCR),1996ordeviatedfromtheirapproved
plan.Plansofthecitywereviolatedbothinlocallevelandcitylevelwhichresultedin
insufficientopenspaces.Privatebuildingsinindividuallevelaregrosslyresponsiblefor
illegallymaximizingthefloorspaceoftheirbuildingandviolationofsetbackrulesof
BCR1996.Asaresult,sunlightandventilationinthebuildingsarelargelyobstructedand
thatalsonarrowedtheadjacentlocalroadsandalleys,creatingcongestion.Throughthis
process, it grabbed the necessary urban spaces which could give us comfort and
breathingspace.The MohanagarImaratNirmanBidhimala(MINB)2007(GoB,2007)replaces
theconstraintsofthepreviousrules,whichencourageditsevasionandabuse,andbrings
significant incentives and benefits to all. Provisions of mandatory open space (or,
maximumlandutilizationof40to60%oftotallotareaforaresidentialplot),setback,
ground coverage, Floor Area Ratio (FAR) etc. can provide significant social and
environmental benefits to the residents. It eliminates mandatory height limitations of
buildingsandenablesdesignofmorelivableandopenspacesthroughdesignflexibility
andprovisionoflightingandventilationofbuiltspaces.Thequalityofbuildingandits
monetaryvalueareenhanced,besidesprovidingflexibilitytothearchitectsforspaceand

Lecturer, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Jahangirnagar University, Savar,


Dhaka1342,Bangladesh.Email:[email protected]

Associate Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Jahangirnagar


University,Savar,Dhaka1342,Bangladesh.Email:[email protected]

JahangirnagarPlanningReview,Vol.6,June2008

50

formanipulation.
ThemajorobjectivesofthispaperistoreviewtherulesinMINB2007,makeanassessment
ofsocial,environmentalandaestheticvalueofFARofMINB2007applicationandalsoevaluate
theimpactofFARatcommunityandcityscale.Relevantplanningtheoriesandplanning
regulationswereexaminedtoassessthepossibilitiesandpotentialsofFARofMINB2007in
developmentcontrolaswellasgrowthmanagementofDhakaCity.Italsofocusesprobable
contributionsofFARinacitywherelandissoscarce,communityspacesaresolimitedand
infrastructureissoinsufficient.
GrowthManagement
It is traditionally been assumed that continuous growth is essential for economic
prosperity but continuous growth with less planning interventions (i.e. development
control)allowedsomecitiesoftheworldtogoinsuchapositionthatenvironmental
qualityhasdegradedandtheybecamealmostunhabitable.OSullivan(1996)thinks,the
largecitiescanexploitscaleofeconomiesinproduction,retailingandpublicgoods.On
thecostside,thelargercityhashigherhousing prices,longercommuting distancess,
more pollution, congestion and crime. Recognizing the land as a precious and rare
naturalresourceandconsideringthecitysbeauty,safety,comfortandenvironmental
quality,cityplannersintroduceddifferentdevelopmentcontrolmechanism.Asplanning
is temporal and contextual, these mechanisms are different in different cities as it
demands. Growth management is not an issue of debate for property right versues
publicinterestorviolationoftheconstitutionalrightstofreedomofmovement,rather
itisameansofenhancingthequalityoflife.
Traditionalplansareoftenunabletoprovideprecisegrowthmanagementtechniquesfor
acity.So,theseplansareformulatedasnecessarykeepingconsistencywiththestrategies
andobjectivesofthegeneralplans.Keeble(1969)viewed
developmentcontrolinvolvesregulationsofthedetailedaspectsofdevelopment,
aboutwhich preciseguidancecannot begivenbythe development plan, soasto
ensureconvenientandslightresults.

Intherealsense,thedesireistoallowfororderlyenvironmentgrowththatwillmeetthe
requirementsforidealliving.PerhapsthisisthepositiveopinionheldbyKeeble,
thatalocalplanning authorityshould,clearlyunderstandthatthesoleobjectiveof
planningandplanningcontrolistosecuretherightuseoflandandthatplanning
powersmustnotbemadetoserveotherends.

CommonlyUsedGrowthManagementTools
Historyofgrowthmanagementinthisworldisnotmucholdanditwasintroducedonly
40to50yearsbacktorestrictthecitysspatialgrowthandregulateitsdevelopment. It
hasbecome increasinglypopularinthelastfewdecadesasawaytoincorporatethe
communitys growth management goals into the comprehensive context of planning.
Dependinguponthecontext,variousgrowthmanagementtechniqueswereimposedin
differentcitiesoftheworld.Oneverysuccessfulgrowthmanagementtechniquemaynot
workinothercityasitscontextisdifferent.Fewpopulargrowthmanagementtechniques
arebrieflydiscussedinthefollowing:
RestrictiononNumber:Withinthiscategoryafixednumberofresidentialbuildings,
commercial buildings or the industrial units are permitted for a given time period.
Managementofcommercialbuildingsandindustrialunitscomeintwoshapes:oneis
restrictingtheamountofsquarefootageofcommercialorindustrialstructuresthatcan
be built within a given time frame and, another measure is to restrict the height of

51

FARasaDevelopmentControlTool:ANewGrowthManagementTechniqueforDhakaCity

commercialbuildingsandthusthefloorareawillbelimitedaspertheplan.Thesetypes
ofmeasuresrestrictthebuiltspaceavailableforemploymentandretailtransactions,just
aslimitinghousingconstructionrestrictspopulation.
FixingFloorAreaRatio(FAR): FARwasdevelopedasamorerefinedandadaptable
measureofintensitythanbuildingcoverage.Previouslyplotratiowasalsopracticedfor
thispurpose.Itexpressesinonemeasure,insteadofseveral,themathematicalrelation
between volume of building and unit of land. FAR, however, cannot replace more
traditionalbulkcontrolsentirely.Oftenitisnotasufficientheightcontrolnordoesit
regulatetheplacementofthebuilding onthesite.Sothistechnique mainlyusedfor
regulatingabuildingwithinasite.
Urban Growth Boundaries: Delineating boundaries to restrict growth comes in two
majortypes;oneistopermitandlimitresidential,commercialorindustrialdevelopment
withinagivenjurisdictionboundary.Theseboundariesseektolimiturbangrowthto
specific geographic areas through regulatory restrictions and/or limitations on
infrastructure expansion. Another type is phasing development areas where
developmentapprovalisdeferreduntilacertaintimeperiodoruntilexistingdeveloped
areasaresubstantiallydeveloped.Inthesimplestcase,aphaseddevelopmentsystem
prohibits development in areas that lack sewers or some other basic public service.
Phased development controls can slow growth to allow municipalities to budget
expenditures for expansion of municipal services to developing areas over a longer
period.Slowergrowthcanpreventtheoverburdeningofexistingfacilitieswhile new
onesarebeingconstructed.Phasingcanalsoencouragegrowthnearexistingbuiltup
areas,helpingtoreducesprawl.
Infrastructure Adequacy: These measures typically prohibit the construction of new
developmentunlessthepublicinfrastructureisinaplacetosupportit.Inthismethod,
prior to or as a condition of residential development approval or of commercial/
industrial development approval, it is specifically required to assess the level of
adequacyofservices1 (i.e.roadcapacityortrafficcongestion)orservicecapacity(i.e.
waterorsewerservicecapacity)
Zoning: Zoningis,ofcourse,themostbasicandcommonlyusedlanduseregulatory
tool.Zoningtypicallydictatestheusespermittedoneachparcelofland.Forexample,
commerciallandisrezonedtoresidentialuseorresidentialpropertyisdownzoned2so
thatitcanaccommodatefewerunitsperacrethanitcouldbefore.Eventhecontrolling
measurescanbeimposedtoaddressgrowthissueswithinthecontextof GeneralPlan.
Stepscanbetakentorestrictthetotalnumberofnewsubdividedlotsthatcanbecreated
inagiventimeframe.
GrowthManagementLegislationinBangladesh
DevelopmentcontroltechniquesinthecitiesofBangladeshlargelyfailedduetolackof
propermonitoringoftheconstructionactivities.Mahmud(2006)thinkslackofeffective
enforcementofplanninglawshaveresultedinahabitofplanviolation/deviationfrom
theoriginalplanbytheplotownersandeventuallygivingrisetoanunplannedand
haphazard development of the city. Existing planning regulations are not exercised
properlyduetocorruption,sociopoliticalinfluenceandlackofinstitutionalcapacityof
1

levels of service is measured on the basis of specific standards for virtually all public
infrastructure,includingroads(congestionlevels),schools(capacityandcrowding),parks(acres
perperson),andpoliceandfireservices(responsetimes).
intendedtoreducetheultimateholdingcapacityofanarea,eitherintermsofresidencesorthe
landavailableofbusinessexpansion.

JahangirnagarPlanningReview,Vol.6,June2008

52

theauthorities.Sogrowthmanagementtechniquesnevercomeupwithitsdesiredresult.
Developing countries are struggling with the insufficient and ineffective laws and
regulationsfordevelopmentcontrol.Perhaps,theyarestrugglingtomeettheimmediate
needandkeepingbodyandsoultogetherratherthanfindingasolutionofensuring
betterlivingenvironment(Mahmud2007).Presently,wehavefewlegalinstrumentsthat
ought to be used for controlled development of the towns and cities of Bangladesh.
Density control is generally one of the preferred development management tools as
densitiesdefinetheoverallsizeorbulkofconstructionwhilealsoexpressthedemand
thatanareaplaceonitsinfrastructure.

DMDPUrbanAreaPlansetforthguidelinesfordevelopmentmanagement(DMDP,
1995,VolII,P6).DMDPreportsuggeststhatcurrentRAJUKpracticeofallowing6
storeybuildingsinplanneddevelopedareasshouldcontinue:ifhighdensitiesare
to be permitted anywhere, it should be in areas where existing infrastructure
provision is the highest. The practice is also appropriate in the context of
anticipated density increases in existing area. In spontaneous growth areas,
developmentupto6storiesshouldonlybepermittedwhereitwouldnotover
burdeninadequateinfrastructurenetworks.

MohanagarImaratNirmanBidhimala:MINB2007amendedin2008providedmore
authoritytoRAJUK,clearcutresponsibilitytomonitorthedevelopmentofthecity,
spread out the responsibilities to various actors, spell out the responsibilities of
buildingdesigners,structuralengineers,sitesupervisorsandthepenaltiesifthey
fail.Importantly,itintroducedFARtomanagethegrowthofthecitybyitsrulesof
buildingcoveragearea,allowablefloorspaceandrelationamongbuildingheight,
roadwidthandplotsize etc.Obviously,success ofitwillfullydependonhow
theserulesareimplementedbyRAJUKinatransparentway.

Private housing and land development rules 2004 provides a complete legal
supportforlanddevelopmentinprivatesectorhousingwhichpermits350persons
peracrethoughthisstandardisquitehighcomparedwithothermegacitiesofthe
world. It provides complete procedures and guidelines for land development,
protectingtheenvironment.Italsoprovidespercentagesoflandthatmustbekept
forcommunityfacilities,amountoflandtobesoldout,schoolsites,roadhierarchy
and importantly planning standards, for example, allocation of land per 1000
population(GoB,2004).
WhatisFloorAreaRatio(FAR)?

The FAR is the totalbuilding square footage (building area) dividedby the site size
squarefootage(sitearea).Thus,anFARof2.0wouldindicatethatthetotalfloorareaofa
buildingistwotimesthegrossareaoftheplotonwhichitisconstructed.
Thus,FAR=(Totalcoveredareaonallfloorsofthebuildingonaplot)/(Areaoftheplot)

53

FARasaDevelopmentControlTool:ANewGrowthManagementTechniqueforDhakaCity

Fig.1:ThisfigureshowsFARof1.0
Source:http://www.carfree.com/far.html

Thissimplymeansthat,ifthearea
oftheplotis100squaremeters,then
100squaremetersofgrossfloorarea
has been built on the plot. The
illustration above shows a 4story
building covering 1/4 of the site,
givingaFARof1.0.Fourfloorsof25
squaremeterseacharebuiltonasite
of100squaremeters.

Anotherinstance,anareahastheplanningdecisionofhavingFARof1.5andhereare
somewaystogetaFARof1.5:

Builda2storybuildingon75%ofthesite(2x0.75=1.5)

Builda3storybuildingon50%ofthesite(3x0.5=1.5)

Builda4storybuildingon37.5%ofthesite(4x0.375=1.5)

ThisshouldbenotedthataFARof1.5isquitehigh,althoughthisdensityisnotunusual
inVeniceorcentralParis,andisconsiderablyexceededinmostareasofManhattan.Most
ofthecitiesofdevelopedcountriesthosedonthavethescarcityoflandcanaffordtotake
themeasureoflowerFARthan1.0.MostoftheEuropeancitieshaveFARlessthan1.0.
FARprovidesthefreedomtoconstructtallerbuildingmaintainingthegivenFARbutit
shouldbekeptinmindthathigherbuildingswouldleavemoreroomforstreetsand
gardens,butbuildingshigherthan4storiesarenotdesirablebecausetheyareexpensive
to construct and unpleasant to live. By applying of FAR we can ensure more
environmentalandsocialbenefitsforgeneratingurbanspacesforoureverydaylife.
Buildingcoveragewillbehalfoftheplotwhen
FARvalueofanareais0.5.Plotcanbeused1
floorathalfoftheareaoftheplotor2floorsat
onefourthoftheploteither.
BuildingcoveragewillbefullwhenFARvalue
ofanareais1.0.Plotcanbeusedas1floor
coveringthewholelotor2floorsathalfofthe
plotor4floorsatonefourthofthelot.

Fig.2:TheoreticalexplanationofFAR.
FARinDhakaMohanagarImaratNirmanBidhimala2007
MinistryofPublicWorksandHousingpromulgatedDhakaMohanagarImaratNirman
Bidhimala (DMINB) in12April2006 underthepowerofTheBuildingConstruction
Act,1952butitwasbeingeffectivefrom1January 2007.Fromitsfirstpromulgationit
wasamendedquitefewtimes.ThisplanninglawintroducedanewtechniqueofFAR

JahangirnagarPlanningReview,Vol.6,June2008

54

development control which contributes in growth management for Dhaka City. By


introducingFARithaseliminatedrestrictionofthebuildingheight,exceptinfewareas,
andpermittedtotalfloorspaceaspertheplotsizeanditsadjacentroadwidth.Ithasalso
providedascheduleforFARIndexwhereFARindexwasdeterminedonthebasisof
plotsizeandadjacentroadwidthofthatplotwhichissameforwholecity,whichisnow
beingconsideredasoneoftheweakpointofthislaw.
Dependingonthesizeoftheplotandthewidthoftheadjacentroad,MINB2007has
proposed minimum and maximum FAR ranging from 3.25 to 6.0 for residential
buildings,2.0to4.5forEducationalbuildings,3.25to4.0forcommercialbuildingsand
3.0to10.0forofficebuildingpurposes.AlltheproposedFARinMINB2007arequite
highforacity which willaccommodate quite abig populationsize.Consideringthe
urbanizationrateandlandscarcitythesehighstandardswereadopted.
PlanningPermissioninDMINB2007
SuccessofFARimplicationwillmostlydependonthestagesofplanningpermissionof
MINB2007,especially,thelaststagewhereoccupancycertificatewillbeissuedbasedon
the field inspection. Inspectors will prepare report comparing the approved plan by
RAJUKandthebuildingconstructedinrealground.Tounderstandthetotalprocessand
the4stagesofplanapprovalofabuildingaregiveninveryshortintheFigure3.
Landuse
Clearance

All form of
development or
construction need to
have land use
clearance

Development
Permit

Building
Permit

Occupancy
Certificate
Beforeobtaining
occupancycertificate,that
buildingcannotbeused

Document to attach:
legal ownership
papers of land
Land clearance
certificate
Soil test report
FAR calculation & use
All the architectural
design and other
technical reports
List of responsible
technical personnel
NOC of other
stakeholders

Few projects need to take


development permits:
Residential building with more
than 40 units
Commercial building with more
than 5000 sqm floor space
Any project more than 2600
sqm site area
Projects directly connected
with highway or major road
Recreational use more than
1 hectre area
Any polluting industry
Any construction within 500
meter of an historical site
Any construction within 500
meter of a natural site

Fig.3:Stagesofplanningpermissionanditssalientfeatures.
BenefitsofFAR
Provisionsofmandatoryopenspace(or,maximumlandutilizationof40to60%oftotal
plot area for residential building), setback, ground coverage, FAR etc. can provide

55

FARasaDevelopmentControlTool:ANewGrowthManagementTechniqueforDhakaCity

significantsocialandenvironmentalbenefitstotheresidents(MINB,2007).Asitpermits
afixedamountoffloorspace,itindirectlylimitsthenumberofoccupantsofthebuilding
whichinturnwouldrestrictdensityofanareauptoacertainlevel.Fewotherbenefits
areasfollows:
Asiteliminatesheightrestrictionofbuildings,itenablesarchitectsmorefreedomto
design more livable and open spaces through design flexibility. The quality of
building and its monetary value is enhanced. It may produce more community
spaces,ifeffortscanbetakeninthecommunitylevel.
Itenablesprovisionofessentialparking,fireescapes andmechanical spacesfor
whichadditionalfloorareasarepermitted.IntroductionofFARofMINB2007will
increasemandatoryopenspacesaroundthebuildingwhichwillallowsufficient
light and ventilation to the building and reduce the total amount of built
environmentanditsimpactstothemacroclimate.About 50% oftheopenspace
mustbekeptunpavedsothatitwillallowmorerainwatertorechargetheground
watertablewhichisverymuchnecessaryforDhakaCity.

JahangirnagarPlanningReview,Vol.6,June2008

56

Fig.4:MoreopenspacescanbemanagedbyfollowingFARtechnique.
Source:Zaman,2005.

It makes open grounds, balcony and terraces, etc. affordable without loss of
buildablefloorarea,therebyimprovingtheenvironmentoftheneighborhoodand
buildings.
Awal (2006),claimsthattheFARprovisionsofthenewrulespermitgreaterfloor
area,makingdevelopmentmoreprofitableevenforthesmallestlandowners.
Table1:ComparativestatementbetweenBCR1996andDMINB2007.
Land

2.0Katha

2.5Katha

5.0Katha

7.5Katha

Road

20ft

20ft

20ft

20ft

FAR

3.0

3.25

3.50

3.75

Numberof
Floor

Rules1996

G+5

G+5

G+5

G+5

Rules2007

G+5(min)

G+6(min)

G+6(min)

G+7(min)

Ground
Coverage

Rules1996

60%

60%

65%

70%

Rules2007

65%

60%

60%

60%

TotalFloor
Space

Rules1996

4290sq.ft

5378sq.ft

11619sq.ft

19066sq.ft

Rules2007

4320sq.ft

6143sq.ft

13125sq.ft

21068sq.ft

Description

Source:Awal,2006.

It encourages greater floor area entitlements, and joint venture development of


adjacent plots by owners without legal restrictions which is profitable due to
increasedFloorAreaentitlements.
RecommendationsandConclusion

TogetthemaximumbenefitsofFARrules,applicationofFARshouldbeinthe
communitylevelwithcommunityeffortthantheindividualplotlevelwhichisa
greatchallengeinthesocioeconomiccontextofDhakaCity.Effortsmaybetaken
from the public authority level with the participation of private developer and
communityforthedevelopmentofareas.

A generalizedFAR only depending onthe adjacent roadwidthwill not able to

57

FARasaDevelopmentControlTool:ANewGrowthManagementTechniqueforDhakaCity

achievetheprimarygoalofFARintroductioninDhakaCity.ValueofFARmustbe
revisedinaccordancetotheplotsize,populationsizeofthatparticularcommunity
and available utility services provisions on community. During fixation of FAR
value,itmustbekeptinmindthatitwillnotexceedtheperacrepopulationdensity
proposedbytheDetailedAreaPlan(DAP)ofthatareaorcontradictwiththepolicy
planofthecityplan.

PresentMINB2007hasencouragedtounifyingthesmallerplotstobiggerplotand
initiatecondominiumforconstructionpurpose.Ownersofthesmallerplotswill
havetospentmoreconstructioncostthanbefore.Sotheywillbesomewayother
compelledtounifytheadjacentplotstogetherandenjoytheadvantageofFARlike;
spaceutilizationandconstructioncostwhichwillrequiresharingmindsetofplot
owners.

ExecutionofDMINB2007passedoneandhalfyearanditistooearlytopredictonits
achievementbutdefinitelyitwillbringgoodresultsiftherulesareexecutedproperly
andthebuildinginspectorvisitsthesiteasaskedintherule.DMINBhasabuiltin
systemofmonitoringofdevelopmentactivitiesintheplanningapprovalprocess.Before
issuing theoccupancy certificate to use the building authoritywillinspect the siteto
checktheplanandreality.So,itisexpectedthatthisprocesswillreduceviolationof
planningrulesinfutureandthuseasethecongestedcityareasinthelongrun.Without
enoughskilledmanpowerofthecitydevelopmentauthority,thislawwillnotbringthe
resultsasitwasexpectedbeforepromulgatingtheMINB2007.
References
Awal,M.A.2006.JamirMalikDeveloperkeoikhotogrostoHobena,MuktoAkash,vol.3,Dhaka.
DMDP.1995.DhakaMetropolitanDevelopmentPlan,vol.2,pp.6,RAJUK,Dhaka.
Fulton, W. 2006. Ballot Box Planning and Growth Management. California: Local Government
Commission.
GoB, 2007. Mohanagar Imarat Nirman Bidhimala 2007, Ministry of Housing and Public Works,
GovernmentofBangladesh,Dhaka.
GoB.2006.BuildingConstruction(Amendment)Act2006,GovernmentofBangladesh,Dhaka.
GoB.2004.PrivateHousingandLandDevelopmentAct2004,GovernmentofBangladesh,Dhaka
Keeble,L.1969. PrinciplesandPracticeofTownandCountryPlanning.London:TheEstateGazette
Limited,pp.115.
Mahmud, M. A. 2007. Sound Planning Permission Process as Prerequisite for Development
ControlintheUrbanAreas:ACaseStudyonDhakaCity, JahangirnagarPlanningReview,
vol.5,pp.1526.
Mahmud, A. 2006. Insufficient Enforcement of Planning Standards by RAJUK Hindered the
GrowthManagement, TheJahangirnagarReview PartII:SocialScience,Vol.XXIX,2005,pp.
5974.
Zaman,Q.M.M.;Mallick,F.H.;Abdullah,A.Q.M.andAhmad,J.2005.InSearchforaHabitable
UrbanSpaceBuiltRatio:ACaseStudyofBuildingandPlanningRegulationinDhakaCity,
inJ.H.BayandB.L.Ong(ed.), TropicalSustainableArchitecture:SocialandEnvironmental
Dimensions.UK:ArchitecturalPressElsevier.
OSullivan,A.1996.UrbanEconomics.Boston:Irwin/McGrawHill.
Ola,C.S.1977.Planning,LawandAdministrationIbadan.IbadanOxfordUniversityPress,pp.1538.

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Ratcliffe,J.1993. AnIntroductiontoTownandCountryPlanning. UniversityCollegeLondon:UCL


PressLimited.
http://www.carfree.com/far.htmlRetrievedon12May2008.

Common questions

Powered by AI

Successful implementation of FAR depends on several critical factors, including effective enforcement of planning laws, transparency in the stages of planning permission, and cooperation of various stakeholders like building designers and regulatory authorities. Additionally, infrastructural adequacy and proper monitoring by township authorities play crucial roles .

FAR serves as a growth management technique by controlling the density of development within Dhaka City, thus impacting land use, environmental quality, and urban aesthetics. It allows for optimization of land use, providing benefits such as open spaces, flexibility in building design, and enhancement of building quality and monetary value . However, challenges to its implementation include the lack of skilled manpower for monitoring, high rates of building regulation violations, and institutional capacity constraints that could hinder effective enforcement .

FAR addresses past regulatory violations by setting quantifiable limits on building density and enforceable design criteria, reducing the scope for illegal construction expansions. It requires compliance with specific metrics relating to floor space and open areas, thus mitigating the widespread non-compliance and deviation from approved plans seen previously .

The high range of FAR proposed in MINB 2007 implies increased building height and density in areas with sufficient infrastructure, which accommodates urban growth demands. However, it poses challenges such as potential overburdening of existing infrastructure and a need for rigorous enforcement to prevent violations, ensuring that the density increases do not lead to further congestion and reduced urban livability .

Zoning segregates land uses into residential, commercial, or industrial categories, thereby dictating permissible activities on each parcel of land. It is a foundational tool of urban growth management aimed at organizing urban space. In comparison, FAR is a more specific measure that controls building density based on a ratio of built area to land area. While zoning addresses land use, FAR provides detailed regulation on the intensity of development within the defined zones, thus offering a more adaptable measure across different urban contexts .

The application of FAR in MINB 2007 offers potential social benefits such as reduced population density, leading to improved quality of urban life. Environmentally, it provides mandatory open spaces, enhancing light and ventilation. Aesthetically, it enables more livable spaces and flexible designs, enhancing both community aesthetics and building value .

Infrastructure adequacy directly impacts the effectiveness of growth management tools like FAR, as these tools rely on existing infrastructure capabilities to support increased density without causing congestion or reducing quality of life. Proper infrastructure ensures that the development facilitated by FAR does not exceed the area's capacity, maintaining the delicate balance between development and service provision .

FAR implementation has the potential to enhance community spaces by providing flexibility in building design, which can result in more open and communal areas. Through mandatory open spaces and controlled density levels, FAR contributes to improved light and ventilation, creating a more inviting and comfortable urban environment that encourages social interaction and enhances overall urban livability .

Development control involves detailed regulations of specific aspects of development which traditional plans cannot precisely guide, ensuring orderly and desirable growth. In contrast, traditional planning tends to offer broader guidelines without addressing specific implementation on the ground, which can lead to vague results .

The introduction of FAR was deemed necessary for Dhaka due to the city's rapid urbanization and population growth, which strained infrastructure and led to unplanned and haphazard development. FAR aims to manage growth by setting limits on building density, preventing congestion, and ensuring the optimal use of scarce urban land while maintaining environmental quality and aesthetic values .

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