Urban policy and infrastructure networks

Outline

During the 1990s there may be opportunities for developing new urban policy frameworks for the management of infrastructure networks. These distributive networks provide essential water, waste collection, energy, telecommunication and transportation services and have important social, economic and environmental implications for the performance of modern cities. However, the limited urban policy links with infrastructure systems tend to facilitate the implementation of the utilities’ own programmes and priorities rather than setting a local policy agenda. Despite these constraints there is the potential for developing new urban policy models for the renewal, maintenance and provision of infrastructure systems. These models could provide the basis for integrated frameworks of urban management.