Infrastructure and cities development vital to support growth, says new RICS President
With over 40 years’ experience in the industry and a founding partner of Hemson Consulting Ltd, an advisory firm specialising in planning policy, municipal finance and related issues, Hughes is the first RICS President based in Canada.“We must develop more commercially innovative approaches to delivering projects that are affordable and on time,” says Hughes. “To meet this challenge the shortage of skills and capacity must be addressed together with the rights of land owners, and others who are affected by projects. RICS has a public interest perspective and provides international standards that increase transparency which, together, can help to balance the needs of different groups.”In regard to Africa, James Kavanagh, Director, RICS Land Group recently commented that the developing world is undergoing a revolution in rapid, unstructured and unregulated urbanisation as rural populations flock to ever growing mega-cities, looking to access better education, health care, employment and a new future for their children.Adds TC Chetty, South Africa Country Manager for RICS: “In many ways, some developing countries are becoming victims of their own economic success with new opportunities for their populations, increased agricultural productivity and better infrastructure. This is across the board of health, social care and education, transport, energy and telecommunications.“However, with urban growth comes pressure: pressure on scarce resources, pressure on creaking urban systems - including waste and transport - pressure on health care, pressure on land and property - formal and informal - and pressure on energy supply.“These pressures are not just applicable to the developing world but also to the developed. So how are we as professionals going to help our urban spaces deal with this potent brew of competing interests and pressures?“Climate change resilience, affordable and sustainable housing, and appropriate building standards also have to be brought into the mix. Urban areas can be epicentres of far-reaching change, whirlwinds of activity and learning, and drivers of change. But if they’re uncontrolled, they can also act as a distillation of significant risk and potential instability.”
Urbanisation in figures
RICS says the figures regarding urbanisation speak for themselves; in 1950, less than 30% of the world’s population lived in urban areas. The world has already passed the pivotal point where this figure has risen to more than 50%. In 2050, city dwellers are expected to account for more than two-thirds of the world’s population.Africa and Asia will be the fastest urbanising regions with the urban population projected to reach 56% in Africa and 64% in Asia by 2050 — they currently stand at 40% and 48% respectively.Most of this investment will be needed in emerging and developing economies. The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa estimates that Africa will need to invest up to $93 billion annually until 2020 for both capital investment and maintenance. Currently only $45 billion is financed, which leaves an infrastructure gap of $48 billion per year.
https://www.saconstructionnews.co.za/infrastructure-projects/17116-infrastructure-and-cities-development-vital-to-support-growth-says-new-rics-president
