7ZW3M0 Urban Planning II:

Spatial Planning Systems and Policies

Aloys Borgers
 Contents

Dutch Spatial Planning System

Dutch Spatial Planning Policies

European Territorial Policy

Assignment

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 Suggested Literature

Zonneveld W, Evers D (2014) Dutch national spatial planning at the end of

an era; in Reimer M, Getimis P, Blotevogel HH (Eds.) Spatial Planning
Systems and Practices in Europe, a comparative perspective on continuity
and changes, Routledge, London and New York.

Needham B (2014) Dutch land-use planning: the principles and the

practice, Ashgate Publishing limited, Farnham.
http://tue.summon.serialssolutions.com/#!/search?ho=t&rf=PublicationDate,2013-12-31:2014-12-
31&l=en&q=(AuthorCombined:(needham))%20AND%20(TitleCombined:(land-use%20planning))

Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (2011) Summary national

policy strategy for infrastructure and spatial planning, making the
Netherlands competitive, accessible, liveable and safe, The Hague.
https://www.government.nl/documents/publications/2013/07/24/summary-national-policy-strategy-for-
infrastructure-and-spatial-planning

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 Suggested Literature

Commission of the European Communities (2008) Green paper on

Territorial Cohesion, Turning territorial diversity into strength, Brussels.
http://www.espon-
usespon.eu/dane/web_usespon_library_files/1220/green_paper_on_territorial_cohesion._turning_territorial_
diversity_into_strenght.pdf

European Commission (2011) Territorial Agenda of the European Union

2020. Agreed at the Informal Ministerial Meeting of Ministers responsible for
Spatial Planning and Territorial Development, Gdll, Hungary.
http://www.nweurope.eu/media/1216/territorial_agenda_2020.pdf

European Union (2014) Sixth report on economic, social and territorial

cohesion, Luxembourg: Publication Office of the European Union.
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/reports/cohesion6/light_6cr_en.pdf

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Dutch Spatial planning
 Dutch Spatial Planning System

National government National vision (policy strategy)

Provincial government Provincial vision (policy strategy)
Municipal government Municipal vision (policy strategy)
Municipal government Land-use plans for entire area
Land-use plan may be drawn up by national or provincial
government and imposed upon a municipality

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 The land-use plan

To develop new or change existing buildings or

infrastructure, a permit is required
A permit has to be rejected if the building/structure does not
fit in the land-use plan (or does not meet other
requirements, e.g. building ordinance)
If there is no land-use plan, there may be no ground to
reject a permit

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 Dutch Spatial Planning System

STATE Nat. Policy strategy Council of

State

PROVINCE Prov. Policy strategy

Mun. Policy strategy Municipal

MUNICIPALITY Council
Land-use plans

objection

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 Dutch Spatial Planning System

National government takes responsibility for 13 national

interests and:
When national interest are at stake
In the case of international obligations
When multiple provinces or neighboring countries are
involved
Provinces and municipalities: responsible for urban
development
Provinces at the regional level
Municipalities at the local level

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 Dutch National Spatial Planning Policy

National Policy Strategy for Infrastructure and Spatial

Planning (2011)
Main aim: support economic development
National urbanization principle: ladder for sustainable
urban development: a 3-step procedure for planning new
urban development:
1. First determine whether there is a regional demand
2. Infill development (including restructuring of existing
locations) prior to greenfield development
3. New multimodal locations prior to car-dependent sites

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 Dutch National Spatial Planning Policy

The 13 national interests:

Competitive: first class climate for companies and

knowledge workers in strong urban regions
(mainports, brainport, ) 4 interests:
Accessible: a robust and comprehensive mobility
system with multimodal hubs 3 interests
Liveable and safe: healthy and safe living
environment; protected from extreme weather and
flooding; adequate freshwater supply 6 interests

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 Dutch Regional/Local Spatial Planning Policy

Housing
Employment
Retail (restrictive regarding out of town development)
Education
Public transport
Recreation and Sports
Green facilities
Etc.

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European territorial policy
 European territorial policy

There is no department of spatial planning or

something alike
But there is territorial cohesion policy in addition to
economic and social cohesion policy
1984: agreement on common territorial development
principles
1999: European Spatial Development Perspective
(ESDP)
2008: Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion
2011: Territorial Agenda of the European Union 2020

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 European territorial policy in general

Sustainable development, competitiveness and social

cohesion
Regions lagging behind might need external support
Polycentric and balanced territorial development,
networks of cities
Effective intermodal transport solutions
Trans European Networks (TENs) linking the main
European centres (including Internet)
Cooperation between regions, especially cross border
regions

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Assignment
 Assignment 1

Describe the national spatial planning system or policy of a

foreign country:
Couples of students describe the spatial planning system
of a foreign country
OR
Couples of students describe the spatial planning policy
of a foreign country
Couples prepare a presentation of max.10 slides
(first slide: students names, group number, name of country)

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