The article deals with the issue of spatial plans at the local level. The aims of this paper are (1) extracting the characteristics of local spatial plans that can be compared more broadly (2) identifying, on this basis, the role of spatial plans at the local level in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). In achieving these aims, the authors have critically examined spatial plans and their performance, as well as the planning systems they belong to. Hence, they have investigated the types of local plans in each country, their legal features, and the layout of their content. This examination has revealed a host of problems in the workings of the CEE planning systems. The article highlights those spatial planning issues that could be the subject of more in-depth international comparisons. The study provides additional evidence that in countries where spatial plans are legislated, there are more (mutually differentiated) legal problems in their application. Such problems have been analyzed. Besides procedural problems, discrepancies between the contents of different types of plans (e.g., general plans and detailed plans) are very often a problem. The paper also proposes a novel method for detailed comparisons of selected aspects of spatial plans. It can be applied to a large number of countries and also to other aspects of spatial planning. Last but not least, the paper emphasizes the need for a detailed multi-stage consultation of each aspect to be compared.

A strategy represents a plan of actions designed to achieve a long-term vision, mission and related goals according to a generic definition. Regardless of the quality of a strategy, it is still the only plan or framework that needs to be implemented. For reaching the genuine effects and qualities incorporated within the objectives of the strategy, a wide set of integrative tools needs to be considered. Especially, when we are talking about the integrative strategy not only from a territorial point of view but also content, sources, challenges, time or multilevel integration. The strategy for the integrated governance system of historical built areas (later also as HBA) in Central Europe is precisely this type of integrative strategy. The paper is focused on the provision of an overview of available integrative spatial planning tools (socio-economic, land-use, land-scape planning tools) which have the potential to support or realise implementation of the goals. Spatial planning offers wide range of integrative approaches and tools supporting the participation of all groups of stakeholders, which is also a key aspect of successful implementation of this kind of strategies. The article demonstrates this approach on best practice from the city of Poprad (Slovakia) where historical built areas (HBAs) are important parts of the city and the strategy for the integrated governance system of HBA in Central Europe covering also this city. The paper, in particular, summarizes the preliminary outputs of international project BhENEFIT supported by Interreg Central Europe Programme. The project is focused on improving sustainable management approaches of historic built areas and looking for novel solutions improving decision-making and managing processes efficiently, through a strategy-based approach and effective monitoring and assessing, risk prevention, environmental sustainability, conservation and re-use.

Processes of brownfield sites redevelopment are very well known and welcome especially by city councils. The new trend of reurbanization with focus on derelict and brownfield sites has reached the Central-East European space, too. City investors are reacting in prompt manner in order to attract new users of the redeveloped sites by good design of public spaces achieved and communicated by public hearings. The topic of participation processes in any development has solid theoretical framework, but the implementation phase often tends to fail. Successful and effective public participation uses properly chosen and appropriately applied tools and methods of participation at the most suitable time of the development process. The aim of the paper is to present how a good participatory planning can have a direct impact on the urban design quality. This participatory approach is explained on case studies of former brownfield sites situated on riverbanks in the cities of Trenčín and Bratislava. In both former riverbank brownfield sites the approach of public participation has been used in different phases and manners. The outcome varies due to the different stages of projects, but nevertheless both can provide a high quality urban design outcome.

New role of the European cities within the processes of cooperation and competition highlighted their need for unique, highly profiled and strategically managed identity. Need for unique, original and plausible profile of each city, aspiring to be successful in the process of regional competition has been confirmed to be utterly urgent. Creativity is one of the most fundamental preconditions of success in this competition and is substantial also in the process of fostering the place attachment, sense of belonging and togetherness of the inhabitants and in many other fields. Recently, creative city goes far beyond pure technological innovations and is more concerned with the management of the self-image of the city. Struggling for competitive advantage of the particular city is based on the strategic and creative managerial approach toward city personalityunique set of characteristics and traits specific for particular city. The article refers on the concept of City as a Personality, covering the results of perception of various elements of city identity: values, face, social climate, key traits and characteristics etc. Fundamental preconditions for efficiency of such concept are introduced and discussed.

Territorial development of metropolitan regions is broadly problematized in several international documents, strategies and policies. Following from their analysis there is a pending requirement of safeguarding sustainable development as the basis of any urban and metropolitan development concepts. Although there are several concepts addressing particular aspects of sustainable urban development in the world, all of them are basically framed by a square defined by four core concepts. Two of them are more structural, focused on spatial patterns and two processual addressing the life processes of socio-ecosystems of cities. These four concepts - Compact City, Polycentric City, Smart City and Eco/Green City, are mentioned in the New Leipzig Charter – The transformative power of cities for the common good published by the European Commission in 2020. Currently, there is no consensus on defining the criteria for identification of metropolitan regions and their territories that would reflect the diversity and specifics in metropolitan regions across the EU Member States. The OECD favours the definition of a metropolitan region not as an administrative unit but as a nodal territory. In addition, the definition of metropolitan regions clashes with the fuzzy nature of their borders, which change over time and in relation to the aspects of their identification. Paper handles the issue of metropolitan regions in Central Europe with the focus on Bratislava metropolitan region. The paper is based on research project Territorial Prognosis Bratislava 2050 developed by Spectra Centre of Excellence with the aim to identify and describe crucial trends and challenges for the development of the Bratislava region based on global megatrends and local specifics and processes and to identify principles for future sustainable development of the region until 2050. Within the broader relations, it is necessary to take into account the development in the functional urban area of the Bratislava-Vienna agglomeration, the so-called core territory of Central European metropolitan region, which also extends to the neighbouring self-governing regions (Nitra and Trnava), the federal states of Burgendland, Niederoesterreich and Vienna and the county of Gyor-Moson-Sopron in Hungary. The outcome of the case study defines trends and their projection for the future territorial development of the Bratislava region based on thematic analysis of economy, social ecology, socio-cultural and environmental, transport, housing, services, social infrastructure, technical infrastructure and energy.