Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
is an activity that inherently involves 'government', but also many other actors,
stakeholders, interests and populations.
There is widespread acceptance of the need for integrated approaches to spatial
planning to deal with these complex problems and the challenges arising from
changes in our cities and regions (Echenique and Saint
2001
; Jenks and Dempsey
2005
). Despite extensive agreement on the need for integrated approaches, there
remain concerns about how to design and implement such approaches in particular
localities, and to deliver a variety of spatial planning outcomes. In practice,
integration may be achieved through:
Linking functions—The successful planning of city areas is more likely to be
sustainable if planning is able to pursue actions in all relevant domains of urban
activity and make explicit links between these in any specific project. Thus,
housing actions should be linked to employment measures, which need to be
integrated with transport interventions that in turn need to seek social and envi-
ronmental outcomes. The increasing complexity in urban life means such inte-
gration is not simple or straightforward.
Linking organisations—Urban planning is facing more complex governance
relations, expressed in terms of multi-level governance, partnerships, devolution,
capacity building, regionalism, inter-professional teams and inter-disciplinary
working. Successful and sustainable development requires spatial planning prac-
tice to be able to make links between different levels and functions of government,
between different types of government agencies, between government and other
interests such as community groups, business interests and other non-govern-
mental organisations.
Linking spaces—An integrated approach to planning also needs to ensure that
any impacts are considered and realised within a variety of spatial scales—con-
necting the local with the global. Major investment projects are often inward
looking, seeking to provide solutions for an area and within that area. This could
extend beyond the city/adjoining urban area relationship to incorporate cross-
border and possibly trans-national relationships.
Linking citizens—Integrated spatial planning by its nature has its roots within
democratic and participative practices, but it also has to face up to the challenges
being created by fundamental changes in modern democracies. These shifts in civil
society underpin ideas that integrated spatial planning should change from a state-
initiated and top-down engagement with citizens to a more two-way, interactive
and deliberative set of practices that take account of the many groups, individuals
and organisations that have an interest in, or may be affected by the outcomes of
spatial policy.
Linking through WTA—Evidence suggests that learning in a trans-national
context is problematic because of significant national differences, which make it
difficult for participants to understand both the context and content of policy, and
to readily apply experience gained from other countries. However, learning does
take place in networks and through trans-national collaboration where partners
work together to solve common problems in a goal-oriented fashion, and where
concrete and practical outcomes are more likely.
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