Assesment on Urban Density and Land Use Efficiency in the Ethiopian Cities

Abstract

“Density” which refers to urban space has become an area of discussion among different scholars in urban design and town planning and among policymakers in urban development. Some advocates for the compact city (higher density) development and others to spread-out. However, the objective of this study is not evaluating the arguments of pro-density and spread out developments. The study aimed to assess and investigate to what extent Ethiopian cities are dense based on national urban development policy, acceptable global standards? Identify major challenges hindering density of development and strategies devised to solve the problem, assess land use intensity among core area, intermediate zone, and peripheral zone and identify the reason behind and suggest some policy recommendations which supports compact developments. The research approach applied in this study is a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative) and both primary and secondary data had been collected and analyzed. Spatially, Ethiopian cities are growing in a low-density pattern as compared to global standards supposed to developing countries and national contexts (housing as well as population density). For this, a range of different factors is considered. Housing typology, land delivery system for development purpose, and deficiency in enabling environment (water supply, sewerage system, road network) and the lack of the policy directions and density standards which indicate where.....what level of density and how it can be achieved, presence of significant proportion of vacant or underused land in core areas by government institutions as well as individuals are contributed for the existence of low-density developments. There is no fit all strategies about density; therefore, to achieve a planned and healthy density, private sector and individual developer must stimulate and regulated through market and planning instruments. To do so, a comprehensive land use and density framework and planning capacity is important.

Keywords: Assessment, built-up area, core area, density, intermediate zone, land use intensity, population