Chapter 1 Spatial planning – an exploration of the discipline
Spatial planning: the systematic preparation of policy-making and executive actions that
are aimed at consciously intervening in spatial order and at organizing these interventions.
Without land scarcity no spatial planning.
1.1.1 Spatial planning and the future
One of the key tensions in planning is the tension between uncertainties and necessary
certainty. This leads to strategic ambiguity which encourages flexibility, making change and
adaptation easier. This strategic ambiguity can be found in planning-support systems,
scenario approaches and futuring techniques. The scenario approach consists of projective
and prospective scenarios.
- Projective scenarios: use forecasting based on available data from past and present.
Related to this is the time lag effect, events which occur later in different parts of the
world but have a similar impact.
- Prospective scenarios: based on a desirable long-term spatial outcome with steps to
reach this vision, also called backcasting. Thus focussed on the future and based
on values.
Both are normative but projective scenarios built on already existing ideas while prospective
scenarios are based on new ideas.
However, planning is never finished. Planning is always influenced by economics, politics,
environmental state, society and public interest. Plans are thus based on a specific time and
space context.
1.1.2 Spatial planning is comprehensive, not sectoral
Sectoral planning involves the implementation of a specific policy of a branch of public
services. Spatial planning is in this book equal to comprehensive planning.
,However, sectoral planning is changing because it’s becoming more integral and
comprehensive (water management) and because spatial policies are increasingly
intertwined and integrated.
1.1.3 Planning as a public activity - the trias politica
Planning is positioned as followed within the trias politica:
1. The legislative branch consists of elected politicians who are responsible for making
laws.
2. The executive branch implements and enforces the law → spatial planning.
3. The judicial branch consists of the courts and its organs.
1.2 Spatial planning as a discipline – between practical application and an academic
discipline
- Planning is analytical
- Planning has a substantial effect on peoples’ daily lives. Planning influences
how cities are shaped, how commuters come to work, how families live, and
where facilities are. Planning also makes people poorer or richer by
influencing property rights. The spatial analysis makes it overlap with
geography. The focus on the future distinguishes planning from geography.
- Planning intervenes.
- While geography focuses on analyzing a spatial situation, spatial planning
also aims at intervening in such situations with a future-oriented perspective.
This is where planning and urban design and landscape architecture overlap.
- Planning is theoretical
- Planning theory should ‘help to guide practice’. This distinguishes planning as
a discipline from applied sciences.
- Planning is practical
- Its context and location distinguishes planning from general science.
1.3 The planning triangle
, The essence and nature of spatial planning is stated in the planning triangle, consisting of
object, process and context of planning.
1. Object. Relates to the content of a planning issue. There can be dilemmas on the
object, when there are conflicts of land use. Theories relevant are the Central Place
Theory.
2. Process. The interaction between actors and resources to reach planning objectives.
The formal side refers to the rules in the planning law and the pragmatic side
(informal side) refers to drafts, scenario-thinking methods, or implementation of
planning with stakeholders.
3. Context. Refers to the institutional and societal conditions in which the object and
process can be realized. The context can have a major impact on the success or
failure of planning. Theories relevant are transition theories, concepts of path
dependency, windows of opportunities or lock-in situations, but also cultural or
political theories.
1.4 Evolution of planning and its theory
1.4.1 Focussing on the object: blueprint planning until the 1970s
1945-1970, spatial planning dominated by reconstruction and thus focussing on urgent and
technical issues. Focussing on the most effective and efficient way → blueprint planning.
Steps were chronological, white coat planners.
1.4.2 Focus on planning processes: collaborative planning around the 1990s
Abolishment of linear progression because it needs more iterative circles. Resulting in 1970
in a major shift, citizens became assertive, participative and had an active involvement in
decision-making (Jane Jacobs). Making spatial planning the mirror of society with
increasingly more wicked problems and the rejection of object-oriented concepts. Resulting
in process planning → focus on planning activity instead of content or object of planning with
the role of communication in problem solving. Communicative planning, participatory
planning and collaborative planning were also a result of these change in paradigm.
1.4.3. Context matters at the start of the 21st century
Planning does not take place in a vacuum. A more general theory would help to challenge
the grind issues.
1.5 Theory in practice - examples form the Netherlands
1.5.1 Towards spatial planning as a national policy interest
1901 First Housing Law, Residential Act (Woningwet). Resulted in formulation of city
extension plans, garden city and spatial interventions that targeted water management,
urban development etc.
1945-1965: Further upscaled and professionalized, which is mainly reflected in the
installation of the national planning act.
1.5.2 ‘The Dutch created the Netherlands’ (1965–1985), Growth center with cauliflower
development in Nieuwegein.
