Home-Based Enterprises in Urban Space: Obligation for Strategic Planning?Berkeley Planning Journal

By Nkeiru Ezeadichie on January 01, 2012

One major manifestation of rapid urbanization and underdevelopment is the re-emergence of informal sector activities.
This trend includes the escalating growth of informal economic
activities, among which are home-based enterprises (HBEs) in urban
residential neighborhoods. This type of informal development,
mostly undertaken by low-income urban residents, has defied
government attempts to set standards or enforce compliance and
is therefore a challenge for urban planners. There is a need to
reconsider HBE activities in light of their positive contributions,
which offset their negative effects on urban space. This paper
draws urban planners’ attention to urban land use patterns and the
alternative planning directions HBEs are prompting. It then calls
for further research on how urban planners could plan and redesign
the urban space with appropriate consideration of HBE operators.
This paper has implications for national economies, especially in
African and other developing countries.

View list of all: Journal Articles