Some experiences on changes to regulatory frameworks as a result of experience in transformations and HBEs (Home-based Enterprises)
Abstract
Studies published by the author indicate that user-participation in constructing and modifying dwellings and neighbourhoods should be accepted as inevitable and positive. Poor households would transform and extend their housing for economic gain if they possibly can, increasing the value of their home as an asset, and the role of regulatory policies and processes should be facilitating rather than creating barriers. As well as supportive land use policies for the development of HBEs, facilitating transformations would be further enhanced by other measures to support credit, market opportunities, access to technology, advocacy and access to information. Even when policy makers accept the principle of facilitating HBEs and transformations they might be unaware of how to change policy in this direction, so involving home-based entrepreneurs in partnerships with policy makers to determine policy through participatory processes would be important. A significant factor to take into consideration in settlement planning is the distance to market and services. For poor people this issue is important to facilitate the development of their livelihoods.
Citation
Paper presented at the Second RGUU International Workshop held at Bourton on Dunsmore, UK, March 2003, 10 pp.
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