Changing Approaches to Urban Planning in an ‘Entrepreneurial City’: The Case of Dublin

Abstract

The paper reviews the manner in which urban planning in Dublin has changed in response to central government urban renewal initiatives and an increasing ethos of entrepreneurialism within the local authority of Dublin Corporation. The paper outlines the marginalisation of local planning functions and the undermining of planning powers through the establishment of special purpose renewal agencies. Dublin Corporation planners have consequently sought refuge in integrated micro-area planning, marking a shift in philosophy regarding the appropriate role for planning in the context of entrepreneurial governance. The paper provides an empirical account of the relationship between changing approaches to urban renewal and the evolution of local planning practice, noting the challenges and opportunities for urban planning created by altered governance structures and approaches.

Deepening Neoliberalism, Austerity, and Crisis

“…The rising influence of the development sector meant that the planning system was targeted for regulatory restructuring in a way that allowed for apparently 'more efficient' and 'less bureaucratic' decision-making. This led to the prevalence of a new 'corporate ethos' in the wider planning system that saw specific governance changes that were more entrepreneurial in nature and thus more facilitative of corporate interests (McGuirk and MacLaran, 2001). The emergence of entrepreneurial planning is typical of the 'reinvented' governance arrangements associated with systems of inter-jurisdictional policy transfer under intensifying processes of neoliberalisation.…”

Legislative change in Ireland: a Marxist political economy critique of planning law

“…In particular, private-led regeneration projects and the development of quasi-public redevelopment authorities, as well as public private partnerships have provided selected private investors with responsibilities traditionally vested in the public sector (Squires, 1996:271;Drudy, 1999;Drudy & Punch, 2000;McGuirk & MacLaran, 2001;Kelly & MacLaran, 2004). Furthermore, interventionist policies have become increasingly involved in improving the profitability surface of inner city areas which would be traditionally perceived as being 'no-go' areas for investors via the provision of a wide range of fiscal incentives (see Williams & MacLaran, 1996;McGuirk and MacLaran, 2001). These market-led planning initiatives have taken various forms, including 'trend planning', 'leverage planning', 'public investment planning' and 'private management planning' (Brindley et al, 1989).…”

The politics of memory: The socio‐cultural contradictions of globalisation and urban regeneration in Dublin.

“…At the same time, new policies are often underpinned by a neoliberal ideological reorientation and a prioritisation of economic rather than social concerns (Peck, 2001). A number of analysts have traced the effects of such processes in Dublin since the mid 1980s against this general backdrop of global economic restructuring, neoliberal macroeconomic policies and local problems with urban decline (McGuirk, 1994(McGuirk, ,1995(McGuirk, ,2000McGuirk and MacLaran, 2001;MacLaran and Williams, 2003;Bartley andTreadwell, Shine, 2003, Punch, 2005;Punch et al, forthcoming).…”