Public Interest in Spatial Planning Systems in Poland and Portugal

Waldemar A Gorzym-Wilkowski,Karolina Trykacz

doi:10.3390/land11010073

Abstract

As the level of development increases, spatial planning is becoming more significant among public management tools. Although the issue of spatial planning and its mechanisms has been repeatedly investigated in the literature, the issue of clashing of interests of different actors remains to be examined. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the enforcement mechanisms of the public interest in the spatial planning systems of Poland and Portugal. The analysis was based on a comparative analysis of the legal basis of the spatial planning systems of the countries. The research confirmed the hypothesis that even with some sociocultural and economic similarities, different countries do not have to create similar mechanisms for the realisation of the public interest in spatial planning processes. The specific solutions adopted in Poland and Portugal differ so much that the enforcement of the public interest proceeds with very few similarities. The integrated Portuguese planning system, with its hierarchical elements, facilitates the achievement of the objectives of public entities. On the other hand, the Polish system, with the dominant position of the municipality, pushes great possibilities of influencing the planning by land administrators, and the poor location of spatial planning in all public tasks makes it difficult, and sometimes even impossible, to achieve public goals in space.

Highlights

Spatial planning has been a key mechanism used by public authorities to influence reality [1], which is quite understandable given the fact that the subject and objectives of spatial planning are very extensive and complicated [2]
The decentralisation of public authority has been evident in Poland following the administrative reform initiated in 1990
At present, the territory of Poland is divided into 16 voivodeships (Polish województwa), which in turn are divided into 314 counties (Polish powiaty), each comprising up to a dozen or so municipalities (Polish gminy)

Summary

Introduction

Spatial planning has been a key mechanism used by public authorities to influence reality [1], which is quite understandable given the fact that the subject and objectives of spatial planning are very extensive and complicated [2]. Albrechts et al [5] indicate that spatial planning is a platform where public and private actors interact. This is because, as Martínez [6] and Ganis [7] observe, spatial planning, due to the broad scope of its regulations, is an instrument, or at least a condition, for many entities to achieve their objectives (especially economic ones). A considerable number of publications on the spatial planning systems of European countries (including EU member states) have already been produced. Some of works are of an overview nature, comparing the planning systems of different countries [8,9,10]. The classic works that include comparative analysis are focused on “planning families” or “planning traditions” [9]

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Discussion

Conclusion