SPA Bhopal to Host Executive Programme on Form-Based Codes for Heritage Cities

Executive Programme

In a significant step towards fostering sustainable and context-sensitive urban development, the Centre of Urban Planning for Capacity Building (CUPCB) under AMRUT 2.0 is launching a 5-day Executive Development Programme on “Form-Based Codes in Historic Cities and Heritage Districts.” Scheduled from April 21 to 25, 2025, the programme will be held at the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Bhopal.

Established under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), CUPCB aims to build the professional capacity of key urban stakeholders including city mayors, municipal commissioners, executive officers, elected representatives, and urban professionals. The upcoming training is a part of CUPCB’s two-year initiative to strengthen governance and planning under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme.

A New Lens to Urban Regulation

Form-Based Codes (FBCs) present a paradigm shift in urban planning. Unlike traditional zoning regulations that emphasize land use and density, FBCs prioritize the physical form and character of urban spaces. They focus on elements like building heights, street widths, facades, and public realm design, aiming to create vibrant, walkable, and visually cohesive neighborhoods.

As Indian historic towns grapple with the dual challenge of modernization and heritage conservation, FBCs offer a tool to balance growth with cultural sensitivity. “The programme will provide a fundamental understanding of form-based codes and how they can be tailored for Indian historic cities,” said Prof. Anand Wadwekar, Programme Coordinator and Associate Professor at SPA Bhopal.

Programme Highlights

Participants will engage in:

• Expert-led sessions covering urban design principles, FBC components, and governance frameworks.

• Field studies that facilitate community dialogue and exploration of local socio-cultural dynamics.

• Case-based learning from existing government schemes such as HRIDAY and PMAY-Urban to assess potential synergies and implementation challenges.

• Drafting exercises to develop contextually relevant FBC charters for heritage districts.

A key feature of the course is the emphasis on integrating FBCs into existing urban development frameworks. This is expected to result in holistic, well-regulated growth while protecting the unique identity of heritage areas.

Towards Informed Urban Leadership

With rapid urbanization impacting the integrity of historic environments, initiatives like this one are timely and essential. CUPCB’s programme not only equips professionals with technical knowledge but also fosters critical thinking around policy-making, stakeholder engagement, and urban governance.

Registration for the programme is open. For details, interested professionals can scan the QR code available on the official brochure or contact Prof. Anand Wadwekar at wadwekarspa@spabhopal.ac.in | +91 9009802465.