Abstract
Spatial planning, as a regional and subregional public policy, establishes a territorial integral vision implemented through spatial plans, aimed at achieving a balanced and sustainable spatial development and improving quality of life. To enhance the effectiveness of these plans, evaluation and monitoring are needed. This paper critically analyses the monitoring and evaluation framework for spatial plans in Spain. Based on extensive literature, legislative, and document review, as well as in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, the paper describes the legal provisions of spatial plans and how they work in practice. One of the main conclusions is that, although many laws and spatial plans have been adopted in Spain, they do not include sufficient details and provisions regarding basic monitoring and evaluation procedures. This practice is in fact highly dependent on the political will of regional governments. The main progress on monitoring and evaluation of spatial plans is achieved thanks to the enforcement of environmental legislation. Finally, it is suggested that the role of specific bodies, public participation, territorial observatories, and indicator systems should be strengthened as key elements of the evaluation and monitoring procedures for spatial planning.
Highlights
It is suggested that the role of specific bodies, public participation, territorial observatories, and indicator systems should be strengthened as key elements of the evaluation and monitoring procedures for spatial planning
Since the Torremolinos Charter 1983 (adopted in 1983 by the Council of Europe Conference of Ministers Responsible for Spatial/Regional Planning (CEMAT)), spatial planning in Europe has been understood as a long-term policy which sets a territorial comprehensive vision directed towards a balanced regional development and the physical organisation of space according to an overall strategy
To analyse the evaluation and monitoring frameworks for spatial planning, we examined the legislation in force in each of the 17 Spanish regions
Summary
Since the Torremolinos Charter 1983 (adopted in 1983 by the Council of Europe Conference of Ministers Responsible for Spatial/Regional Planning (CEMAT)), spatial planning in Europe has been understood as a long-term policy which sets a territorial comprehensive vision directed towards a balanced regional development and the physical organisation of space according to an overall strategy. 2): (i) balanced socioeconomic development of the regions; (ii) improvement of the quality of life; (iii) responsible management of natural resources and protection of the environment; and (iv) rational use of land. For this purpose, spatial planning includes decision processes about structural spatial elements, such as networks of settlements, infrastructure, and services, as well as natural and cultural resources and heritage. In 1999, the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) was signed by the ministers responsible for regional planning in the EU member states. The ESDP has no binding status, as the European Union has no formal authority for spatial planning, the ESDP has influenced spatial planning policy in European regions and member states [3]
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