Rapid Urban Growth and its Impact on Sustainable Planning Case Study: Al-Khums City

Abstract

The phenomenon of increasing population growth and the accompanying rapid, unplanned urban sprawl has become a global problem affecting most cities worldwide. This problem is particularly pronounced and complex in developing and emerging countries, given their weaker economies and less political and administrative stability. The natural consequence of this haphazard construction, which disregards urban planning standards, is the distortion of the city's overall urban fabric, or what is known as visual pollution. Furthermore, encroachments on public lands and properties, coupled with the negligence of many authorities responsible for cleanliness and public services, have exacerbated the problem and made it more complex.

This research examines the phenomenon of unplanned urban growth, exploring its causes and its impact on sustainable planning and on city residents from social, political, and economic perspectives. It also explores sustainable planning strategies for addressing and mitigating this phenomenon by comparing the situation in Libya with that of similar countries.