Our law requires that the potential impact of a development on the sense of place of an area must be considered. In the case of Director: Mineral Development Gauteng Region and another v. Save the Vaal Environment and others 1999 (2) SA 709 (SCA) at 715C, the Supreme Court of Appeals with regard to a proposed mining venture on a wetland next to the Vaal River, identified as an environmental concern the "predicted constant noise, light, dust and water pollution resulting from the proposed strip mine will totally destroy the sense of place of the wetland and the associated Cloudy Creek. Thus the spiritual, aesthetic and therapeutic qualities associated with this area will also be eliminated".

The two essential requirements for an appreciation of sense of place are that it must be a person that experiences this sensation and that it must be a place that is being experienced. Sense of place requires an interaction between the affected individual and the place where it happens. Seen from a different perspective, the importance of the sense of place is determined not only by the place itself, but by the value that the individual gives it.

The range of emotive reactions of the person experiencing a special place must be analysed. This includes an analysis of why the person regards the area as important and what it is in the area that makes it so special. The list of natural sites that could qualify as places with a sense or spirit is endless. It could include something as overpoweringly large as the Grand Canyon or as intimate as little valleys or streams. In water related planning the focus would mainly be on the natural environment. The case quoted above refers to a quiet river with reeds and many birds situated between the Vaal river and the Rietspruit wetland of about 1 000 hectares.

Sense of place is an aspect that should be considered in the planning process especially in order to determine whether or not a proposed project should be allowed and if so, how the project should be structured to ensure that it adds to rather than detract from the sense of place of the area.