Property advocates have urged the new cabinet to establish a ministry of urban development and planning to prevent unruly urbanisation and prepare for future cities along new transport routes.
Atip Bijanonda, chairman of the trade associations, construction and real estate clubs at the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the group favours such a ministry to authorise and enforce regulations and participation from stakeholders.
The extension of the skytrain from Bearing station to Samut Prakan is under construction and scheduled to be completed by 2017. Heavy property development is slated for areas clinging to the railway, which connects Bangkok to outlying areas. SOMCHAI POOMLARD
He suggested a city plan board be established at all levels — community, provincial, regional and national — to allow stakeholders to participate in city planning.
The stakeholders comprise three parties: companies, including landlords, land users, visitors, developers and business owners from the industrial, agricultural or commercial sector; the social-public sector, such as communities, neighbours and significant places; and the public sector including government agencies.
"A city plan should incorporate participation from all stakeholders and not just be a public hearing. Stakeholders should have a voice in any city plan changes. This will set a development guideline that considers community requirements," he said at a seminar on city planning and the country's strategic development.
Mr Atip said the new ministry proposal will be submitted to the cabinet within two months.
"We should have an integrated city plan to be able to set the country's strategic development," he said.
Pranee Nantasenamat, a senior analyst in the Public Works and Town & Country Planning Department, agreed with the idea of pushing the department to become a ministry because it currently has no authority to enforce regulations related to the city plan.
"The department just sets a guideline for country and town planning for each province to follow. Provinces and local authorities do not have integrated plans and sometimes are pressured by local investors and business owners," said Issara Boonyoung, honorary president of the Housing Business Association.
There should be a single agency or board to enforce regulations related to city plans, rather than the patchwork agencies who plan, enforce and approve permits today, he said.
Prof Asawin Bhichayayothin of Chulalongkorn University's architecture faculty agreed a national board or council of transport systems should be set up to work on a national plan and set guidelines similar to the National Economic and Social Development Board.
Prasert Taedullayasatit, president of the Thai Condominium Association, said: "Condo development in some provinces has expanded in the past three years due to the provincial boom, but local city plans cannot catch up with it."