1.
:::Prepared by Eduardo Oliveira & Anna M. Hersperger:::
The impacts of strategic spatial
planning on land change in
European urban regions
Oslo ViennaLyon
LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY GROUP MEETING, 03.11.2016

2.
SPATIAL PLANNING
has been thought as a driver of land use and
land cover change. However…
Methods to analyse spatial planning goals and the
degree of implementation in more territorial-based
governance remains under-researched. In addition…
Setting the scene
Little attention has been paid to the role of
governance in strategic spatial plan-making &
plan-implementation. Moreover…

3.
Gap
Spatial planning
Governance
Land system science
The literature has also been unsuccessful
in unveiling the conceptual & practical
linkage between…
CONSEQUENTLY…

4.
This is where we stand

5.
The purpose of this study is to
examine
How do spatial planning - specifically strategic
spatial plans - IMPACT land-use
and land-cover change in urban regions.
BEARING IN MIND THAT…

6.
Spatial planning…
“Is seen to be something that goes further than traditional
planning in its aspirations to serve as a mechanism:
THEREFORE…
• for collaborative visioning
• for overseeing implementation of development by a
diverse range of actors, and
• for ensuring that all this is delivered in ways that meet
the diverse expectations of society.”
(Haughton, Allmendinger, Counsell and Vigar, 2010).

7.
Is important to understand
more territorial-based
governance arrangements …
Coordination | Commitment towards strategic plans
Interested groups | Key players | Role of NGOs
Leadership | Accountability | Regional capacity
Because governance arrangements IMPACT…

8.
Impact strategic spatial planning
processes

9.
Challenges posed to urban regions
• Environmental (e.g. floods, energy supply);
• Demographical (e.g. ageing, migration);
• Rise of new technologies (e.g. “mobility” apps; self-driving);
• Housing market (e.g. short term rentals; affordability);
• Changes in production and the economy (e.g. smart
cities);
• Changes in governance settings (e.g. regional authorities);
IN ADDITION…

10.
Strategic spatial planning has
been assuming a primary role in
coping with these challenges, AND
e.g. Van Well & Schmitt, 2016; Davoudi et al. (2008); Albrechts, Balducci & Hillier (2017)
Territorial governance - is the formulation and
implementation of public policies, programmes and
projects for the development of urban regions (e.g.)
BUT, LET ME HIGHLIGHT

11.
“In order to assess their role, legitimacy and
efficacy, strategic planning processes must be
described on the basis of an in-depth analysis and
evaluation of the local context in which they have
been implemented”.
Context sensitivity of S.S.Plans
(Fedeli, 2017, p. 181)
SO

12.
The 14 European urban regions = 14 planning
cultures = 14 territorial governance settings

13.
In-depth semi-structured interviews
What about
Governance in
plan-making ?
CONCUR WSL
Urban & regional
planners, academics

14.
A set of territorial governance elements*A set of territorial governance elements*
*e.g. Schmitt & Van Well, 2016; Jessop, 2016; Beunen, Assche & Duineveld, 2015; Foster
and Barnes, 2012; Albrechts, Healey & Kunzmann, 2003.
Coordination of interests
Interested groups & players
Joint working agendas
Civic participation
Expert & tacit knowledge
Adaptive capacity
Leadership

15.
Multiplicity of challenges
Dublin
Housing availability
& affordability
Dealing with rural-urban
disparities
Population growth

16.
Oslo
More public spaces
& green areas
Attractiveness,
competitiveness,
positionality, liveability
Multiplicity of challenges
Improving
Commuting & mobility

17.
Dublin
Oslo
+ housing land + employment land
+ regenerate brown
field areas
+ deal with scarce
resources
+ improve quality
of live
+ preservation of green infra.
Stockholm Copenhagen
Urban regions need…
Need to think regionally, ultimately prepare strategic
regional plans…

18.
For example…
Strong cooperation
Strong commitment
towards regional
land use plan
People in the
Stuttgart Region live
their lives with a
regional approach
Dealing with cross
border
planning issues

19.
The 1st
example:
Regional plan for Greater Stuttgart Region (Germany)
“People in the Stuttgart Region
live their lives with a
regional approach”
Baden-Württemberg

20.
The 1st
example:
Regional plan for Greater Stuttgart Region
How do “Region Stuttgart plan” IMPACT land change in
Urban Region of Stuttgart?
Coordination
Interested groups
Working agendas
Civic participation
Knowledge
Adaptive capacity
Leadership
• Effective coordination between regional
entity (VRS) and local authorities (179);
• Municipalities provide inputs to the
regional plan suggesting development
areas, green infrastructures, S-Bahn (e.g.);
• Balance local knowledge & regional goals;
• Local leaders take regional plan at heart;
• Project-sensitive negotiations (e.g.funding)
• +/- 5000 written notes from citizens,
representing their ideas, perspectives -
often on micro-scale (i.e. neighbourhood);

21.
The 2nd
example: Strategic Development Plan For
Edinburgh & South East Scotland (UK, Scotland)
• Dealing with cross boundary
planning issues
– Housing
– economic growth
– green networks
– infrastructure
– long term vision for the region.
• SESPLAN - 6 member
authorities working together
The Strategic Development Plan
is used to inform
Local Development Plans

22.
How do SESplan IMPACT land change in Edinburgh urban region?
The 2nd
example: Strategic Development Plan For
Edinburgh & South East Scotland
• Weak coordination between SESplan
authority and local tiers of government
(e.g. Edinburgh city council)
• Interested groups do what they have to
do - weak voluntary cooperation;
• The SESplan provides general
guidelines;
• Local development plans are more
effective regarding land use;
Coordination
Interested groups
Working agendas
Civic participation
Knowledge
Adaptive capacity
Leadership

23.
The 3rd
example:
Regional Land Use Plan for Helsinki-Uusimaa (Finland)
The tasks of the
Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional
Council include regional
and land use planning
Strong cooperation
&
Strong commitment
towards regional
land use plan
supports
plan-implementation

24.
How do Helsinki-Uusimaa regional plan IMPACT land change in
Helsinki-Uusimaa urban region?
The 3rd
example:
Regional Land Use Plan for Helsinki-Uusimaa
• Regional Council works in close
cooperation with member municipalities,
the central government, the business
sector, universities / research institutions,
as well as with civic organizations.
• GIS-oriented civic participation tools;
• Interested groups are taken in
consideration during plan-
making/implementation - e.g. new housing
developments, the extension of a tram line
or primary infra-structure.
Coordination
Interested groups
Working agendas
Civic participation
Knowledge
Adaptive capacity
Leadership

25.
Key findings
• Directly elected regional authority;
• Strong sense of regional belonging / identify;
• Effective territorial governance arrangements;
• Funding schemes support plan-implementation;
• Regional authority more as an advisor;
• Regional authority and Edinburgh city planning
remain doubtful regarding SESplan;
• Planning permissions likely to be granted by
local authorities if well elaborated / justified;
• Intense negotiation between public/private;
• Intense coordination / consensus building
between regional and local entities;
• Common regional development priorities;
• Optimization of regional strengths and assets;
• Territorial governance changes (2017+)
strengthen regional planning, reg. land use plan;

26.
Impacts of strategic plans on land change
A clearer regional leadership, an unified regional vision lead
to an effective strategic regional plan and more predictable
impacts on land use.
Hypothesis A
A loose and fuzzy regional tier of government as well as
weak territorial coordination and involvement, lead to a less
effective strategic regional plan and uncertain impacts on
land use.
A strong tradition of territorial coordination and consensus
building, strengthen the regional tier of government and the
strategic regional plan, bringing certainty to the impacts
on land use.
Hypothesis B
Hypothesis C

27.
Anna M. Hersperger, Sofia Pagliarin, Eduardo Oliveira, Simona Grădinaru
http://www.wsl.ch/fe/landschaftsdynamik/projekte/CONCUR
Funded by ERC SNSF TBS
Thank you
Eduardo Oliveira and Anna M. Hersperger
eduardo.oliveira@wsl.ch | anna.hersperger@wsl.ch
Swiss Federal Research InstituteSwiss Federal Research Institute
CopenhagenHamburg
Vienna