A Consensus-Based Framework for the Sustainable Urban Planning Development: “As an Approach for Saudi Arabian Cities”

Abstract

Cities in developing countries are experiencing rapid and in many cases unsustainable growth. This paper analyses the importance of sustainable urban planning in the context of the capital city of Saudi Arabia, which is Riyadh. It provides a comprehensive review of the historical growth of the city and critically discusses its urban planning development phases, informed by strategies and schemes adopted during this development process. This critical review is based on a proposed framework of sustainable development that focuses on a number of core issues, including environmental, social, economic and urban planning. This proposed model is evaluated based on the opinion of 35 experts, who are familiar with the local context of Saudi Arabian cities, through the use of the Delphi Technique.