A Conceptual Framework of Public Participation Utilization for Sustainable Urban Planning in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

There is a growing concern for people to contribute to future developments in shaping their surroundings (town, community, and region) and, thus, their quality of life. Therefore, the study aims to propose a framework of public-participation exploitation for sustainable urban planning in Saudi Arabia. The framework proposed was developed based on analyzing the literature review and experts’ opinions through the Delphi technique. The framework covers planning levels and stages, participation methods, sustainability pillars, and the use of information communication technology (ICT). A proposed PP framework is produced, which is comprehensive, yet tailored for the urban-planning context of Saudi Arabia. The framework assists the management of PP properly. It addresses several practical elements that involve the citizens’ awareness regarding PP in the planning process, along with the accessibility of the populace to urban-planning issues. The framework shows that there is no single participatory technique that can satisfy all planning processes. The framework recognizes the importance of integrating sustainability into urban plans. It is concluded that the current framework helps to manage public participation properly and introduces the participants in the planning process, which eventually affects the urban planning of cities in Saudi Arabia.