The City of Phnom Penh
PLANNING FOR A POPULATION BOOM
Combating urban sprawl
Phnom Penh has a population of 1.3 million, and another six million
people (half the population of Cambodia) live within 100 kilometres of
the city. Because the growth rate is currently 3.2%, this figure is
likely to double by 2020.
Despite this prodigious rate of population growth, Cambodia's annual
GNP is only $830 per capita (one eightieth of that of Thailand or
Singapore). With ten thousand new families being created every year,
the Municipality of Phnom Penh has had to devise a critical new
strategy for growth.
The city is being extended by up to 30 km from the old centre. Five new
urban centres have been created on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, which
are designed to prevent urban sprawl and random urbanisation. They have
been strategically placed to allow workers to be close to their jobs,
thus reducing pressure on transport.
The city is simultaneously implementing a system of land reform, and
encouraging the development of dwellings for lease. Public-private
partnerships have been created to promote investment in housing
development, and poor communities are being encouraged to renovate old
settlements by low-rate loans and other banking reforms.
cont'd....
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