Exploring the dual role of the State in post-crisis project-led planning practice in Greece: over-regulator or enabler?

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article explores the role of the Greek State in post-crisis special-purpose planning concerning public land redevelopment. It assesses its planning practices and their impact on the planning flexibility. The empirical research focuses on two projects of national importance in railway property and the planning instruments that were established during the planning reform in the aftermath of the fiscal crisis. The findings highlight the dual role of the State as over-regulator and enabler of planning as well as the failure of the planning reform to modernise the State’s planning practice and mitigate domestic weaknesses like overregulation and administrative deficiencies.