Power to the citizens: Factors fostering satisfaction with citizen participation in urban planning

Abstract

Urban planning constitutes a pivotal role in the daily routines of citizens, exerting a substantial influence on their overall quality of life. Consequently, the involvement of citizens in these planning processes is imperative. Citizen participation is a promising tool for bolstering acceptance of implemented urban planning measures. At the moment, considerable attention is directed toward the integration of virtual reality (VR) in the realm of urban planning and participation. However, the efficacy of this method seems contingent upon specific conditions or target user groups. Thus, it is crucial to differentiate the formats and methods suitable for approaching user groups at various stages to elicit a high level of satisfaction with participation, thereby ensuring enduring positive effects for future citizen engagement.This study aims to formulate a model of citizen participation in urban planning, elucidating the factors influencing satisfaction with participation and the subsequent willingness to engage in future planning processes. A comprehensive literature review identified the following factors impacting satisfaction and future willingness to participate: 1) Participation level, 2) Participation format, 3) Time of participation, and 4) Personal characteristics. In terms of participation level, informative procedures furnish participants with factual information but confer limited decision-making power. Deliberative processes, on the other hand, foster communication, discussion, and opinion formation, affording participants greater influence. Collaborative processes emphasize concrete cooperation and joint solution finding through activities such as research, analysis, and design. Regarding participation format, a dichotomy exists between analogue (e.g., citizen consultation hours, residents' meetings, face-to-face surveys) and digital (e.g., online meetings, virtual reality visualization, online voting) methods. Engagement can be initiated at different stages of the planning process, including the early planning stage, start, implementation phase, or project conclusion. Additionally, individual factors such as age, gender, norms, motives, and convictions have been identified in numerous studies as influencing participation satisfaction and willingness.This model, integrated into the NUMIC2.0 project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, investigates determinants of citizen participation in urban and regional planning. The model incorporates the identified aspects and constructs from the literature review, offering insights into the factors influencing successful citizen participation. Advantages and disadvantages of diverse methods and approaches for specific user groups will be outlined within the paper. The model is intended to provide the municipalities with a basis for selecting suitable methods, engagement levels and participation times tailored to the respective target groups. Future research should focus on validating the model.