Natural Law based Vedic architecture includes the concept of Vastu, which is the sum total of all the effects of the different aspects of placement and construction of any building, community, city, or even an entire nation or continent. Detailed criteria are given for correct architecture, placement, layout and planning on all these levels, in order to promote life and progress. If Vastu is incorrect in any way it produces negative effects on the health, success and prosperity - the good fortune - of the individual, family or community.

The Natural Law Party's national strategy for reconstruction will take this aspect of the Vedic science of Maharishi Sthapatya Veda into account in order to create maximum benefit for the whole country and every individual, family and community.

National planning policies will continue to be mirrored in Structure Plans and district-wide Local Plans for implementation on the local level, as they do now. The difference will be that now the principles followed on both national and local levels will be scientific principles of Natural Law.

Maharishi Sthapatya Veda includes formulae for the proper orientation and placement of buildings within a town or city in order to derive maximum advantage from Natural Law. No building is in isolation and the relationship between buildings and landscaping around them is an important element of the design.

National and local planning have to take into account the fundamental human need to have adequate space. The trend towards inner city redevelopment, cramming new housing into heavily polluted areas, goes against this need and inevitably results in more stress and higher crime rates. The Natural Law Party will promote development around the perimeter of existing centres of population. Larger plots and more open space between buildings can be achieved only by economic growth and a new approach to building services. The Natural Law Party will promote housing and neighbourhoods that are self-
sufficient in terms of their energy needs and therefore less reliant on the proximity of neighbouring buildings and services (see section on Energy and Environment).

Forestry and landscape architecture

The Natural Law Party will promote extensive landscaping and planting in existing towns and cities. Architecture in accordance with Natural Law includes the provision of certain trees and plants for maximum benefit to health, and the location of lakes, ponds and fountains to introduce the soothing influence of water. The Natural Law Party will promote the planting of forests on the outskirts of towns and cities for rest and recreation. Major transport routes will be flanked with planting to counteract the stressful influence of travel and to facilitate wildlife corridors.

Regional centres of architectural excellence

National reconstruction will start with the building of regional centres with excellent architecture and planning that is in accord with Natural Law, where residential, commercial and educational buildings are designed for better health and prosperity. At the same time the Natural Law Party will establish health centres in every constituency in order to make the knowledge of better health easily accessible to everyone. In each centre the layout and design of the buildings themselves will promote the health, happiness and good fortune of everyone who visits them (see Health section).

New training in architecture and building

The Natural Law Party will supplement the education provided in schools of architecture, building and design, with Natural Law programmes that develop the full potential of every student. At the same time, courses will be supplemented with knowledge of systems of architecture, building and design that are in accord with Natural Law, glorifying the environment and promoting health, happiness and success for everyone. At a vocational level, apprentice schemes will be encouraged in the use of natural building materials and other aspects of sustainable development in order to address the long-term decline of the construction industry, which has brought about an unprecedented shortage of skills.