Introduction to the Conference Theme

Georgia Giannakourou, Associate Professor, University of Athens

International Conference “Rethinking Planning Law in the Crisis Era: New Scope, New Tools, New Challenges”

Platform of Experts in Planning Law - Postgraduate Program “State and Public Policy” of Athens University

Athens, 17 & 18 October 2013

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I. The economic crisis: a changing context for

planning? Despite the broad variety of planning traditions worldwide, there

exists a general consensus -at least in the academic circles- that statutory planning and planning law are currently in a face of transition

The globalisation of the economy, the growing complexity of social phenomena, the fluidity of location behaviours and the rapid acceleration of change have transformed the context (economic, social, political and, finally, intellectual) within which conventional planning and planning law operated for several decades

In several countries, the situation has been aggravated after the crisis

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The main effects of the crisis on planning

Economic recession and de-growth context

Government downsizing and reduction of public expenditures

More aggressive economic policies and interventions that question the previously, hegemonic, discourse of sustainable development

Urban decline as economic activities stall

Cancellation of many development projects

Increasing privatization of planning powers and planning services

Primacy of business-led development projects (project plans) instead of comprehensive planning policies

Redefinition of planning objectives Primacy of pro-growth strategies Retreat of broader sustainability

goals and quality of life issues

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ΙΙ. Critical questions

How planning can respond to the crisis?

Contingency measures or structural planning reforms?

Do we need a new intellectual agenda for planning?

Is there a new role for statutory land-use planning in changing conditions?

Reform and modernization of planning law: necessary and feasible?

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III. Rethinking planning law in changing conditions: Themes for comparative discussion

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A) Shifts in the role and scope of planning:

“pro-active” versus “re-active” planning?

Conventional tasks

Traditional planning mostly turned on spatial ordering

Main mechanisms: Zoning techniques and maps

Focus of planning on

controlling development

New tasks New planning mostly turned

to spatial development

Main mechanisms: Indicative guidance for development and performance guidelines and standards

Focus of planning on enabling development

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B) Shifts in Planning Tools: “Softer” versus

“Harder” Planning? Traditional Planning Tools

Land-use plans, zoning ordinances and building regulations

Abstract, and often static, rules for development and construction, of legally-binding character

Departures from plans not easily provided or implemented

Regulatory planning not sufficiently linked to land-use management

Major problems Non-efficient processes

(lengthy and costly processes of approval, revision and implementation)

Low Performance Difficulties to cope with

changes in economy and society

Loss of confidence in planning capacities and its adaptive efficiency

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C) Shifts in planning governance

Old features

Many levels of planning corresponding largely to different government levels

Overlapping jurisdictions and policies

Consistency problems

Confusion and lack of legal certainty

Current trends Re-engineer the relations

between planning authorities at different levels

Two waves of changes: a) Centralization (or re-

centralization) of planning powers in order to ensure central control over projects of national significance

b) New types of decentralization policies under the form of a pro-market “localism”

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Thank you for your attention