Urban Development Project According to the City Planning System in Japan

The legal city planning system in Japan consists of three components; "Land Use", "Urban Facility" and "Urban Development Project". An urban development projects implement land use plans and urban facility plans. The combination of all three components; land use plans, urban facility plans, and urban development projects makes the planning system in Japan comprehensive. The inclusion of the urban development project component into city planning system has enabled Japan to cope with rapid urbanization.
The urban development project includes "Land Readjustment Project", "Urban Redevelopment Project", "New Residential Area Development Project" and so on. The other private land development activities are regulated by "Land Development Permission" which is legalized in the City Planning Law.

Framework of Legal City Planning in Japan
Figure: Framework of Legal City Planning in Japan

Overview of Urban Development Projects in Japan (As of March, 1995)
Type Laws (enacted year) Implementing Body Measure Implementation
Number of Projects Project Area
Land Readjustment Project Land Readjustment Law (1954) Local Government, Cooperative, etc. Replotting 10,254 358,231 ha
Urban Redevelopment Project Urban Redevelopment Law (1969) Local Government, Cooperative, etc. Right Conversion 554 893 ha
New Residential Area Development Project New Residential Development Law (1963) Local Government Land Acquisition 45 15,591 ha
Industrial Park Development Project Laws Concerning Development of Suburban and Urban Development Areas in the National Capital Region and the Kinki Region (1958,1964) Local Government Land Acquisition 48 8,308 ha
Residential District Development Project Special Measures Law for Facilitating Supply of Housing and Residential Lots in Metropolitan Area (1975) Local Government, Cooperative Replotting 7 50 ha

Source: Ministry of Construction

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