Spatial Planning Contexts Across SPADES Pilots are Evolving
Planning traditions vary considerably across Europe, influencing how planning is organised, who makes decisions, and how policies are coordinated. As SPADES continues to unpack findings from the diagnosis phase, this article explores the spatial planning systems in which the 17 pilot territories operate. Understanding these differences provides important context for comparing pilots and supporting knowledge exchange throughout the project.
European spatial planning styles
Using an established European typology, the Diagnosis Workbook categorised the pilots into four broad planning traditions:
- Comprehensive integrated planning brings together different policy areas through planning at national, regional and local levels, supported by planning institutions and strong political commitment.
- Urbanism focuses on urban design and controls land use through zoning and planning regulations.
- Land-use management centres on regulating land use through strategic and local planning, with national governments setting the overall direction.
- Regional economic planning uses investment and infrastructure to guide regional development and reduce territorial inequalities, with a strong coordinating role for central government.
Recent reforms have led to updates in five pilot countries
Most pilot countries remain within the same planning tradition identified in earlier European typologies. However, recent planning reforms and evolving practices led SPADES to update the classification of five countries.
This diagram shows how the pilots have been categorized according to the four sectors of planning systems and the degree of national integration of sectoral policies in spatial planning. The arrows show the changes following recent planning reforms and policy developments.
Most updates point towards greater integration of sectoral policies within spatial planning. The Netherlands was reclassified following the introduction of new planning legislation and soil-oriented guidance. France has strengthened cross-sectoral coordination, while Flanders and Italy have gradually incorporated elements of comprehensive integrated planning into their existing planning traditions. Romania is the exception, shifting towards a more investment-oriented regional economic planning approach.
Together, these updates provide a current picture of the planning contexts represented across the SPADES pilots. While planning traditions remain diverse, several pilot countries show a stronger emphasis on integrating sectoral policies into spatial planning.
Going forward
The updated overview provides a common basis for comparing planning approaches during the SPADES Co-creation phase. Future work will examine how soil quantity, quality and performance are addressed in planning documents and what this means for integrating soils into spatial planning. To read further analysis of historical development of planning systems and initial mapping of governance levels, read the Co-creation workbook chapter 3.5.2 on Spatial planning clusters in Europe.
Future newsbits will continue to explore findings from the diagnosis phase, including planning instruments, soil challenges, and the tools and methods used to integrate soil considerations into spatial planning across Europe.
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