Spatial Planning Systems in Europe: Comparison and Trajectories(Elgar Studies in Planning Theory, Policy and Practice)

In the context of post-pandemic recovery and the urgent need for more resilient cities and regions to combat climate change, there has never been a more important time for spatial planning. This comprehensive account of the current state and trajectories of spatial planning in 32 European countries offers a systematic comparison of its characteristics, position in government and implementation. There is an emphasis on the role of spatial planning in coordinating the spatial impacts of sectoral policies. Chapters by experts in the field explain how governments are reforming spatial planning to meet new challenges, and how the European Union and its cohesion policy shape change through the Europeanisation of territorial governance. Although the capacity of nations, regions and cities to effectively govern the transformation of their territories remains as diverse as ever, this book identifies common trends towards a more responsive and inclusive spatial planning. Scholars and students of comparative spatial planning will value cross-country insights from the analysis. Planning professionals and policy makers will benefit from the knowledge of trends and policy reforms in other countries.

Table of Contents:
Contents: PART I THE RATIONALE BEHIND COMPARATIVE PLANNING RESEARCH 1 Spatial planning systems: a European perspective 2 Vincent Nadin, Giancarlo Cotella and Peter Schmitt 2 Cross-national comparison of spatial planning systems: a review of experience in Europe 28 Vincent Nadin, Giancarlo Cotella and Peter Schmitt PART II SPATIAL PLANNING SYSTEMS IN EUROPE: KEY COMPONENTS AND CHANGE 3 The meaning of spatial planning in the law of European countries 65 Kasia Piskorek and Vincent Nadin 4 The multi-level nature of spatial planning and territorial governance 89 Wil Zonneveld and Dominic Stead 5 On the diversity of spatial planning instruments across Europe 110 Lukas Smas and Peter Schmitt 6 On the relation between spatial planning and sectoral policy fields in Europe 128 Peter Schmitt and Lukas Smas 7 Reform of European spatial planning systems: integration, adaptation and participation 151 Vincent Nadin, Ana María Fernández-Maldonado, Marcin Dąbrowski and Dominic Stead PART III THE EUROPEANISATION OF TERRITORIAL GOVERNANCE: DYNAMICS AND TRAJECTORIES 8 European territorial governance and its influence on spatial planning systems 176 Giancarlo Cotella and Umberto Janin Rivolin 9 European territorial governance in practice: on the relationship between cohesion policy and spatial planning at the local and regional level 200 Tomasz Komornicki, Barbara Szejgiec-Kolenda, Maria Bednarek-Szczepańska, Bożena Deg—rska, Przemysław Śleszyński and Katarzyna Goch 10 Potential future enlargement: spatial planning in the Western Balkans 218 Giancarlo Cotella, Zorica Nedović-Budić, Erblin Berisha and Nataša Čolić 11 Relearn policy learning! Spatial planning in times of disruption 248 Kai Böhme and Christian Lüer 12 The classification of spatial planning in Europe: added value and challenges 268 Vincent Nadin, Giancarlo Cotella and Peter Schmitt

About the Author :
Edited by Vincent Nadin, Emeritus Professor of Spatial Planning and Strategy, Department of Urbanism, Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, Giancarlo Cotella, Professor of Spatial Planning, Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning, Politecnico di Torino, Italy and Peter Schmitt, Professor of Human Geography with focus on Urban and Regional Planning, Department of Human Geography, Stockholm University, Sweden

Review :
‘Incisive, insightful, and indisputably the most current and comprehensive treatise on spatial planning on the European continent. Written by a team of Europe’s leading planning scholars, the book does much more than characterize and contrast some 250 planning instruments and 31 planning structures in the European Union, but brings clarity to the nuanced concepts of territorial cohesion, balanced development, subsidiarity and indeed the distinctive meaning of the term spatial planning itself. In doing so it provides a conceptual foundation for assessing whether the European Union is progressing towards a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous European continent. The book is a must-read for students of planning systems all over the globe and especially for those who seek to understand, or strive to meet, the spatial complexities of the European experiment.’ ‘It is essential for governments to comprehend spatial planning systems to achieve sustainability and resilience in the face of climate challenges. This book provides insights from 39 European countries about the changing landscape of spatial planning reform. It is a valuable resource that navigates the complexities of territorial governance, and promotes collaborative and inclusive approaches for effective planning. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in this subject!’ ‘This extensive comparison of planning practices across vertical and horizontal systems within the European context is an extremely valuable contribution to a necessary rethinking of what the future of planning needs to look like in times of accelerating change, growing uncertainty, and constant disruption. A must-read for every planner who has an interest in learning from different planning systems and improving the work planners do.’ ‘This book offers a comprehensive comparison of spatial planning as practised throughout Europe. Hailing from its various corners, the authors cast their nets wider and offer a veritable compendium, of the state of the art.’