The Third National Economic and Social Development Plan (1972-1976). Chapter 14, p.208-211.

Population Policy

The Third National Economic and Social Development Plan
(1972-1976). Chapter 14, p.208-211.

Date:     1972-1976

Source:     Office of the Prime Minister, National Economic and Social Development Board, Bangkok, Thailand

Subject:     city planning, urban development, development targets, housing

Text:

Measures, Targets and Projects of Metropolitan Development

To eliminate and alleviate the problems and obstacles mentioned above, during the Third Plan period, the following aims and projects in the field of Metropolitan development have been formulated:

1. City Planning. As a basis for effective implementation of town planning activities, the city planning law must be promulgated during the early period of the Third Plan. This city planning act shall set up basic principles of city planning, both in the Bangkok metropolitan area and the other urban areas. The city planning act will be a basic guideline for an orderly and efficient growth of cities, establishing basic principles of land use control and utilities expansion.

In the Bangkok metropolitan area, a metropolitan government will be set up covering the area of four provinces: Bangkok, Thon Buri, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan. The administrative unification will be aimed at increasing efficiency and economy by leading to closer coordination among related administrative units. Agencies covering the same 4 provinces have already been established for public utilities such as the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and the metropolitan Waterworks Authority.

The Town and Country Planning Office of the Ministry of Interior has completed the revised Metropolitan Bangkok City Plan during the period of the Second Plan. This revised city plan sets up basic principles for the growth of the Bangkok metropolitan area. In particular, measures are proposed to keep the size of population within manageable limits. These include both control of the natural growth rate through family planning and reduction in the rate of migration from the provinces into Bangkok. The measures recommended in the Plan also include the development of other towns in the Bangkok Metropolitan region and in other regions. During the Third Plan period, implementation of these measures will be initiated.

2.Housing. The population growth rate in Thailand has been very high, about 3.1 per cent annually. A very high rate of about 5.5 per cent per year has prevailed in Bangkok-Thon Buri, leading to problems of housing shortage. Rapid population increase usually results in high density, and poor and unsanitary housing conditions which are a source of diseases and social problems.

In an attempt to solve this problem the Government has built public housing to be rented or sold, particularly in the densely populated areas, so that low and middle income families can be provided with adequate and sanitary housing facilities.

However, the past performance of the Government's public housing programme has been most inadequate compared with the demand for housing, particularly in the high density urban areas like Bangkok and Thon Buri. The rate of population increase has exceeded the rate of increase in the number of housing units built during the last ten years. During this period 150,000 housing units were built, while the population increased by about 1.1 million. If an average size of family is 5.5 persons, it can be computed that the shortfall in number of houses built during the past decade has been approximately 170,000 units or 17,000 units per year.

In the greater Bangkok Plan 1990 prepared by Litchfield Whiting Bowne and Associates, it is indicated that the demand for housing of the population of the metropolitan area will be approximately 19,000 units annually, and the Plan recommended that, in order to provide housing facilities for the population of the metropolitan area, 17,000 units of housing facilities should be built annually. If the proposal of Litchfield Whiting Bowne and Associates is taken into consideration it can be seen that the Government's housing programme during recent years was too limited and that a larger programme must be initiated.

Construction of public housing, particularly for low income families, is the Government's responsibility. Until now, the public housing construction programme has not advanced very rapidly because of a number of obstacles. There is not as yet an accepted Government housing policy and it is therefore impossible to prepare a long range programme or even to allocate sufficient manpower for such work. Moreover, there are many agencies involved in similar activities with the result that annual budget allocations are spread thin among uncoordinated agencies. Nor are there any accepted guidelines on sources of funds.

In order seriously to tackle these housing problems it is recommended that the Government establish the following definite policy on housing to serve as the guideline of operating agencies:

The Government will built and promote the construction of housing facilities to balance with the demand of the people, income level, and also the Government's resources. The Government shall provide land and a town plan and shall promote investment in construction materials manufacturing. This will be done by an efficient agency.

To implement the general policies set up above the following measures will be undertaken:

The Government shall formulate a national housing development programme covering a period of 30 years (1972-2002). This programme will have to be revised and updated from time to time to adjust to changing circumstances.
The greater part of the Government housing programme will be for low incomes families. For middle income families housing construction will be undertaken not only by the Government but also by the private sector. The Government shall assist and encourage the private sector to invest in housing projects.
In order to render assistance to the rural population and to lessen the need to migrate to the towns, the Government shall expand its activities in the field of land settlement schemes and land allocation projects for the rural population with inadequate farm land.
The Government shall conduct housing demand surveys at regular intervals, in order to be informed about changes and developments so that the projects can be adjusted in accordance with the actual situation.
In order to achieve coordination between the various Government agencies, a coordinating committee will be set up to determine policy and to find solutions to various problems. This committee also will look into questions of administrative improvements.
The Government shall assist and promote the establishment of financial institutions to extend housing credit at low rates of interests.
The Government will seek additional funds through the issuance of Bonds, or other kinds of loans, for the direct expansion of housing programmes or shall guarantee housing loans, both domestic and external.
The Government shall promote new methods of lower-cost construction. The Government will promote long-term investment in construction and building materials industries. Assistance will also be given to research on construction material development and skill training activities.
The Government shall prepare master plans for towns, and relate these plans to housing needs in urban, rural and regional areas of the Kingdom.
Housing problems in the densely populated urban areas will receive high priority.
A target is set to eliminate the housing shortage in the Bangkok metropolitan area within 10 years. This is to be done by aiming at an annual rate of housing construction of 10 units per 1,000 population.
Quality control on housing shall be enforced. Consideration will be given to the health, social and environmental aspects of the housing programmes.
Housing policies and their implementation shall be in accordance with general town planning principles.
The Government shall seek capital and shall promote private investment in this field so that expenditures on housing construction will amount to 4 per cent of Gross National product within 10 years.
The Government will provide and assist in the provision of land for housing construction, particularly in the larger urban areas by first using public land.
The Government shall make amendments in laws, rules and regulations so that housing programmes can be developed efficiently and in accordance with the policies and guidelines set up by the Government.

During the Third Plan period, the existing complex problems of Metropolitan Development will be alleviated by the following actions:

A central housing agency will be established to replace the various agencies with similar function in the second Plan period. The establishment of this new single central agency will be undertaken in stages. The first stage would be the appointment of a housing coordinating committee with its own secretariat, assigned the responsibility of formulating an overall housing plan and coordinating the work of other existing implementing agencies. Future housing construction programmes of the various Government agencies will have to be integrated within the general principles set up by the Committee. Housing programmes within this framework shall not be restricted to new construction but shall also include redevelopment and urban renewal programmes. Slums and squatter settlements which are now scattered all over the area will be redeveloped.

With regard to financing, studies will be undertaken and housing finance institutions will be established. These financial institutions will assist in housing construction, urban renewal and slum clearance programmes. Sources of finance will be sought both at home and abroad. Domestic saving for housing purposes will be promoted. Foreign financing, in the form of both loans and grants will be sought to improve the housing conditions of the Bangkok metropolitan area.

The target set for housing construction and urban redevelopment for the Third Plan shall be that within a period of 10 years there should be no more housing shortage in the Bangkok metropolitan area. Housing for low income families, which is the direct responsibility of the Government, will be built in various parts of the metropolitan area, both in the central districts and in the suburbs. During the Third Plan, the target has been set for developing slum areas housing 30,000 families, building 5,073 flat units and 780 row housing units in low income housing projects. Promotional privileges will also be granted to the private sector to induce investment capital into the field of middle income housing in the metropolitan area.

Studies and recommendations will also be made on standards of housing and building materials, and these will be useful to builders, both Government and private. The study, research, planning, design and setting up of standards of construction and building materials shall be undertaken jointly by the various agencies concerned. Most of the work in this field will be promoted by the centre for building research and development of the Applied Science Research Corporation of Thailand. The centre for building research and development shall be expanded to be able to cope with the scope and quality of work that is expected to be performed during the Third Plan period.

With the aim of providing information useful for future planning activities, data collection in the field of housing will also be regularly undertaken and its coverage will extend much beyond what has been done during the Second Plan period.

It can generally be said that housing problems, both in terms of quality and quantity, are mostly felt in the Bangkok metropolitan area. The problems have been accumulating for a long time and urgent action must be undertaken in the Third Plan period.