Spatial Planning, Devolution, and New Planning Spaces

Abstract

In this paper we put forward the case for viewing`spatial planning' as a political resource, one which has been largely supportive of the rollout neoliberal approach of New Labour. Drawing on work on postpolitics, we argue that ironically the progressive credentials of spatial planning in terms of consensus building, policy integration, and the search for`win^win^win' solutions may have helped script out oppositional voices. We then outline how the combination of changes to planning systems, devolution, and local government reform has not generated a`double dividend' of greater planning powers devolving from new territorial administrations to local planning authorities. Instead a more complex process of creating new planning spaces has emerged after devolution. Five types of new planning spaces and spatial practices are identified, including new soft space forms of governance.

Neither Revolution, Nor Resignation: (Re)Democratizing Contemporary Planning Praxis: A Commentary on Allmendinger and Haughton's “Spatial Planning, Devolution, and New Planning Spaces”

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Mapping Cross-Boundary Climate Change Vulnerability—Case Study of the Hualien and Taitung Area, Taiwan

“…According to The Netherland's National Programme for Spatial Adaptation to Climate Change, spatial planning strategies are implemented through regional governance bodies [31]. Under this model, geographic space is divided into a number of predetermined boundaries [32]. However, to cope with climate change and increase resistance to its negative effects, existing spatial planning should be abandoned.…”

The Relationship between Spatial Planning and Economic Competitiveness: The ‘Path to Economic Nirvana’ or a ‘Dangerous Obsession’?

“…Themes have been extrapolated from the literature to frame the empirical analysis; particularly the work of Allmendinger and Haughton (2010. The first investigates the transmission chain of ideas on competitiveness into the policy and planning arenas.…”

“…Spatial planning, an 'ambiguous concept' (Faludi, 2002) with a 'variety of definitions' (Allmendinger and Haughton, 2010), moves away from narrow regulatory decisions to a broader set of issues. It aims to produce shared principles of spatial development and "new forms of territorially-focused collective action" (Newman, 2008(Newman, , p. 1371.…”