The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, officially launched The Neighbourhood Planning and Design Guide on 9 July 2019 in Cape Town. The CSIR was contracted by the Department of Human Settlements to update and revise the previous guide, commonly known as the Red Book, published in 2000. The new Red Book supports the development of sustainable human settlements by providing practical guidance related to the planning and design of the services and infrastructure typically provided as part of a neighbourhood development project.

“This project is a good example of effective collaboration between the CSIR and the Department of Human Settlements,” said CSIR Board chairperson, Prof Thokozani Majozi at the launch event. He  added that the production of the guide involved a truly multi-disciplinary team of almost 80 authors and contributors consisting of a range of specialists within the CSIR as well as external service providers. He also acknowledged the commitment of key team members, particularly CSIR senior researcher, Engela Petzer who was the project manager, and CSIR research group leader and contract manager, Tinus Kruger.

The understanding of human settlements has evolved significantly over the last two decades, necessitating a revision and update of the 2000 Red Book, says Kruger. The guide is intended to inform local responses to global challenges, especially climate change and its impact on neighbourhoods. It incorporates the latest human settlements research and current thinking as reflected in various government policies, programmes, frameworks and strategies.

The Red Book is aimed at built environment practitioners and professionals such as engineers, urban planners, architects, urban designers, as well as community groups involved in housing development initiatives. It addresses various aspects, including housing, public open spaces, public facilities, water supply, sanitation, stormwater management, energy, transportation, solid waste management and crime prevention through environmental design. 

Discussions are under way between the CSIR, the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, and other role players to develop an implementation strategy and training programmes to ensure that the guidelines are applied at municipal level. By activating the Red Book, the CSIR will be contributing to the creation of integrated, resource-efficient, liveable and safe communities that would ultimately result in improving the quality of life of all residents.

For further information, please visit the Red Book website.