Assessing Spatial Planning Outcomes – A Novel Framework Based on Conformance and Governance Capacities

Abstract

Most studies use quantitative measures to assess spatial planning outcomes. Instead, this paper proposes a novel qualitative framework to assess spatial planning outcomes that seek to understand why outcomes conform to, or deviate from, the intentions of spatial planning instruments. This novel framework links the conformance perspective with governance research. We tested our analytical framework in six Swiss and German municipalities. Drawing on interviews, observations and planning documents, our findings demonstrate which factors decisively influence planning outcomes. Our findings also demonstrate that high conformance does not necessarily equal spatial planning success. Qualitatively assessing planning outcomes contributes to the evaluation of the success and failure of spatial planning, and improves the implementation of planning instruments and practices accordingly.

Knowledge Map of Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development: A Visual Analysis Using CiteSpace

“…From an urban perspective, such as accessibility optimization [77], commute time reduction [78,79], land mismatch for building a compact city [80,81], as well as enhancing the quality of urban life, fostering urban growth, facilitating contraction, reducing edge problems [82], establishing ventilated corridors [83], fostering regional resilience and flexibility [84][85][86], and promoting city resource circulation [87,88], scientific spatial planning is required. In many studies, we can see that various institutions or researchers try to use spatial planning to coordinate urban population [10], land [89,90], and industry to achieve ecological optimization of land use [91,92].…”

Wie funktioniert Raumplanung? Umsetzung von Instrumenten zur Steuerung der Siedlungsentwicklung in Deutschland und der Schweiz

“…Dazu betrachten wir die Umsetzung von Raumplanungsinstrumenten in Governance-Prozessen, die im Raum sichtbaren Wirkungen dieser Instrumente stehen nicht im Fokus (vgl. hierzu Kiessling/Pütz 2021). Die Forschungsfrage, wie Instrumente der überörtlichen Raumplanung zur Steuerung der Siedlungsentwicklung umgesetzt werden, untersuchen wir empirisch in vier Regionen: den Planungsregionen Oberland (Bayern) und Südlicher Oberrhein (Baden-Württemberg) in Deutschland sowie den Kantonen St. Gallen und Zürich in der Schweiz.…”