Masterplan

A masterplan for better slum living is proposed by Hope for Slums. The masterplan incorporates principles of Inclusionary Housing and Land Value Capture and sustainable urban design. It incorporates ideas provided by residents, experts and other stakeholders on what kind of neighborhoods would be ideal for the upgraded developments and seeks to improve on what was delivered in Canaan estate (Kibera East, Zone A) under the Kenya Slum Upgrading Project. 

The masterplan was prepared for Soweto East zones C and D (total area of 8.1 hectares). This was done on assumption that the land is rezoned into high-rise flats. Further, to attain aesthetic value, the masterplan assumes typical building designs can be imposed on all the land parcels except for minor adjustments where the plot areas and shapes differs significantly.

However, the masterplan strives to achieve uniform plot sizes where possible. It is also proposes that where the building plans are typical, they would be approved in advance by the county government. This means that developers will not need to make individual applications hence hastening the development process and reducing cost. This will act as an incentive to the developers and is important because the length of approval processes have been identified as an impediment to the housing development process.

In preparing the masterplan, benchmarking was done with other low-income estates in Nairobi including Umoja, Kayole and Dandora to determine the ideal plot size for such a housing scheme. It was determined that land parcels measuring approximately 280 square metres would be ideal for the proposed model. The masterplan aimed at creating a sustainable neighbourhood in the upgraded neighbourhood and created 122 land parcels. The master plan incorporates two seven-storey prototypes – 50 land parcels which front the main arterial routes are mixed use and will have some commercial units on ground floor while 72 land parcels will be purely residential.  It provides for green areas and wide access roads to allow for incorporation of small business stalls along the roads to accommodate those who are currently trading along the roads. A typical development prototype is explained by Dr Claudia Trillo below.

The proposed masterplan incorporates ideas provided by residents, experts and other stakeholders on what kind of neighborhoods would be ideal for the upgraded developments.