European Planning Research Articles

Development and rollout of a national plan on cardiovascular health. Spain's cardiovascular health strategy (ESCAV).

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in most countries; however, few specific political actions have been implemented to increase cardiovascular health at the national or international level. We aimed to describe the methodology used for the development and initial rollout of Spain's Cardiovascular Health Strategy of the National Health System (ESCAV, Estrategia en Salud Cardiovascular del Sistema Nacional de Salud). A multidisciplinary team comprising all relevant stakeholders developed a national strategy to reduce the burden of CVD in Spain. The team used qualitative methodologies to identify and select priorities and design strategic map models. The strategy was structured within a matrix composed of 6 cross-cutting themes (citizen empowerment; health promotion, prevention, and early CVD detection; comprehensive management of acute and chronic CVD; health care coordination; equity; and knowledge management) and 4 longitudinal lines (ischemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and valve disease). These were framed by 3 overarching axes: continuity of care, patient safety, and leveraging of information systems. A total of 27 critical points were selected, leading to the definition of 99 strategic objectives (32 general and 67 specific) and 136 actions through iterative reviews and prioritization. Strategic maps were developed for the overall strategy and for each action line, incorporating 61 indicators to facilitate and monitor the development of the strategy. ESCAV is one of the most ambitious initiatives to change a nation's cardiovascular health. The steps taken and the methods used to develop this strategy may serve as a valuable reference for other countries seeking to implement similar initiatives. In addition, it may provide an incentive to advance efforts toward establishing a European plan for cardiovascular health.

The power law of resource abundance and their corresponding extraction: Evidence to be accounted in the frame of the critical raw materials initiatives for the energy transition

Responsible sourcing of minerals and metals is critical for the transition to a low-carbon energy system. The increased demand for these materials requires a shift towards more efficient and environmentally friendly mining practices, as well as better recycling and reuse of these materials. Based on a transdisciplinary approach, in this work, the power law, normally used to model biological systems, is applied for the first time to model the relationship between the abundance of strategic elements and their extraction, at different times (in 1999 and 2023). An increase in the exponent of the power law when analyzing materials production data in 1999 and 2023 (the data can be fitted by two power laws with an exponent of 0.61 and 0.74, respectively) suggests changes in production dynamics, which could be driven by factors such as increased demand, improved efficiency, resource diversification, regulatory changes, market dynamics, or environmental considerations. Understanding these changes is crucial for assessing the sustainability and long-term viability of material production systems. Overall, the proposed power law offers a valuable framework for analyzing the dynamic relationship between material abundance and production over time, providing insights that can inform decision-making and support efforts toward sustainable resource management and economic development. This is particularly important with the recently established policies about the increase of mining activities in the EU countries.Based on these findings, this study suggests several priority actions, to achieve the objectives of the Critical Raw Materials Act, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the proposed European plan to increase the availability of strategic materials. This involves diversifying resource inputs, promoting renewable and alternative materials, and adopting practices that prioritize conservation and responsible stewardship of natural resources.

Integrating environmental issues into the design of mobility plans: Insights from French practices

Local authorities have a strategic role in mitigating the environmental impacts of the transport sector. However, they struggle to integrate environmental issues into their decision-making processes, especially planning. In the European context of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan approach and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), this paper scrutinises three French localities to determine the current best practices and limitations for designing mobility plans and integrating environmental issues. Several limitations are identified: (1) limited expertise in defining and characterising actions and objectives, which complexifies plans' design, understanding, and monitoring; (2) a lack of a framework to conduct long-term quantitative environmental assessments and to use the results to influence decision effectively; and (3) monitoring processes are barely described in the documents, and the planning horizon where objectives are defined is not in sync with the indicators’ mandatory evaluation period. This French case study thus reveals that European planning practices must be further analysed and improved to deal with the rising environmental concerns, e.g. through an operational framework to design mobility plans with effective integration of environmental issues.

Players or Pawns? University Response to the Introduction of Plan S

The European Plan S initiative intending to transform the field of academic publishing towards open access has been received with both enthusiasm and criticism. This article reflects on this case as an example of how policymaking in ‘the Europe of Knowledge’ – characterized by increasing complexity caused by problems of multi-level coordination, combined with multi-actor divergence of norms, ideas, and interests − affects and triggers university responses. The analysis of response to this initiative for reform of scientific publishing takes the concept of normative match and mismatch as its theoretical point of departure, and the article provides an overview of how Plan S has been implemented in Norwegian higher education, where the challenge for universities has been to find a balance between responding to political expectations and expectations from societal and academic stakeholders. Our findings suggest a normative mismatch related to the Plan S initiative. The article argues that the university level was left with the task of defending the academic freedom of the individual scholar, while also being delegated the responsibility of controlling the rising costs of publishing services. As a result, issues relating to academic publishing are currently of strategic interest to universities.

Uncovering Spatial Planning Values through Law: Insights from Central East European Planning Systems

The spatial planning act should define the key values of a given planning system. However, legally defining these values does not guarantee their smooth or efficient implementation. Though, it should provide guidance in their subsequent interpretation. Spatial planning law defines values but does not guarantee their realisation. The articulation of values in spatial planning law must, as a rule, be more general, detailed by specific provisions and considered in judicial interpretation. The aim of this article is to extract and comparative analysis spatial planning values comprised within national legal acts of Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. It then sets out to compare these values to the planning practices within these countries. Values stated in legislation at the national level are also applicable at lower planning levels, particularly at the local level. Their inclusion in acts is therefore very important from the perspective of planning practice. For the purposes of this article, values in spatial planning are those comprised within national laws on spatial planning matters. This refers to the values explicitly identified and included at the beginning of such laws. The way these values are framed and understood is explored in the article. The legal recognition of values in spatial planning can provide a basis for their wider implementation. However, there are several barriers against their successful implementation. Different jurisdictions engage with these values in distinct ways. The same applies to actual planning practice. Identifying and comparing the ways in which spatial planning values are framed in the laws of the surveyed countries made it possible to single out values that are repeated in all systems (e.g., sustainable development, environmental protection, protection of architectural properties and public interest) and values that are framed differently across Central East European planning systems.

EMT Model of 20-MW Wind Generator for Real-time Simulation of HVDC Networks

As modern trends demand efficient methods to massively and promptly exploit clean energy, there is an urgent need of solutions that can help the ambition of accelerating the development and integration of larger scale energy systems with the capacity to extract, store, and utilize huge amounts of renewable energy sources. In view of this, the rated power output of the wind generation technology is expected to significantly increase in the near future to enable multi-gigawatt roll outs, e.g. the European plans for Offshore infrastructure development in the North-Sea. Besides, gigantic energy systems shall transmit the power to onshore interconnected systems via HVDC transmission. This paper introduces an EMT model of a 20 MW wind generation system with the conventional back-to-back converter replaced by a combination of an AC to DC converter and a DC to DC converter. While the need of such systems is acknowledged in the literature, the design and performance analysis of high power implementation of such systems have not been addressed yet. The proposed system operates at a voltage level of 100 kV, which can directly transfer power through HVDC interconnection. The designed control aspects are outlined and the resulting dynamic response obtained from realtime digital simulation (RTDS) are discussed. The presented wind generator concept can help in reducing the size of a planned energy system by requiring lesser system components. Also, the system efficiency can be enhanced by decreasing the number of power conversion stages.

The mapping of forms of spatial planning: An instrument-oriented tool for the international comparison of spatial planning activities

The paper makes a contribution to European comparative research on spatial planning by providing an instrument-oriented methodological framework for forms of planning. Based on the main efforts to date, the main challenges of comparative research on European planning systems are identified. The author’s comparative four-dimensional model and related visual tool can be used to bridge different national languages of planning and compare various spatial forms of planning. With the tool, the nature of planning regimes, specific plans, and other planning-related activities can be identified in accordance with the dimensions of Motivation, Geography, Scope, and Instruments, making them comparable.

The ‘Most dramatic evidence of progress and expansion’: building regional shopping centres in western Sydney in the 1970s

ABSTRACT This article charts the development of regional shopping centres in Sydney’s western suburbs during the 1970s. It shows how rapid population growth on the metropolitan fringe encouraged investment in large-scale retail property development that accommodated the needs of the city’s biggest department store firms. Many of these firms had been involved in the first wave of shopping centre development in middle-ring suburbs in the 1960s. In the 1970s, however, almost all design and construction of regional shopping centres was undertaken by specialist development firms that had honed their capabilities working for retailers during the 1960s. Retailers and developers conducted research to determine ideal site locations, but were guided by the prescriptive hand of metropolitan planning authorities. This meant that Sydney’s retail landscape reflected diverse influences: American style shopping centres were built in locations determined by European planning ideas and occupied by Australian retailers. Planning regimes also constrained subsequent development ensuring that the regional shopping centres built in Sydney’s western suburbs in the 1970s remain at the top of the region’s retail hierarchy today.

Meeting decarbonization targets: Techno-economic insights from the Italian scenario

The European plan for a green transition includes the Fit for 55 package, designed to pave the way for climate neutrality. Despite its significant implications for cleaner technologies, it potentially correlates with high investment requirements, necessitating the pursuit of cost-effective environmental policies. Starting from the reference scenario previously envisaged in the Energy and Climate Plan, socioeconomic and environmental impacts are assessed using mixed methods. It is estimated that €1120 bn in investments are needed to meet decarbonization targets, while the total impact on public finance revenues to 2030 is projected at €529 bn. Additionally, the avoided costs of emissions amount to €36 bn, while those from energy savings are expected to reach €30 bn. This paper adds value by contributing to the literature on European climate policies, offering an in-depth appraisal of implications that integrates technoeconomic and environmental perspectives. Furthermore, it informs policymakers' public spending decisions for decarbonization.

Drawing lessons from mineral and land use policy in Europe: Crossing policy streams or getting stuck in silos?

While mineral resource extraction is a contested land-use under increased societal scrutiny, it is tremendously important for clean energy transition and societal economic development. Despite increased demand, access to mineral resources is, however, subject to different stakeholder interests often reflected in competing forms of land-use and institutional complexity of two policy streams of minerals and land use planning. During the last decade public policy responses in Europe introduced new instruments such as protection of minerals deposits or valorisation schemes for minerals development, both aiming to link or integrate these two policy streams. While policy studies focus on the mineral and geological background, they lack the contextualisation in the broader (land-) policy and governance discourse. This article closes this gap and contributes to the interface between mineral resources, land policy and spatial planning. It provides insights into 1) what policy instruments are assembled to policy mixes for integrating minerals and land use planning policy, and (ii) in how far these instruments are fit for purpose in the respective land-use planning system. In our analysis we portray the diversity of policy instruments to better integrate policy domains of mineral and LUP, but are only deployed in a 13 European countries. The instruments are assembled to policy mixes combining regulatory, strategies and guidelines, as well as information-based or voluntary instruments with horizontal policy integration representing on average high degrees of integration compared to vertical integration. Considering diversity of European planning systems and different context of mineral resource challenges, we conclude that it is the “contextual match” of what (instruments) works where (land use planning system) that matters. In our research we clearly indicate this contextual match on two levels: First a planning system and decision-making match for vertical integration, and, second, a policy cycle match for horizontal integration, where minerals or LUP topics/issues, respectively, are considered in preparation or design stage of land-use plans, zoning documents or mineral planning documents. For policy decision-makers the array of identified instruments provides solutions fitting to different socio-spatial contexts of mineral and Land use planning policy as well as different planning systems.

Enabling 100% Renewable Power Systems Through Power Electronic Grid-Forming Converter and Control: System Integration for Security, Stability, and Application to Europe

In accordance with European plans, dynamic controls are developed to allow for system-wide integration of 100 % renewable energy sources (RESs) interfaced through power electronic converters while maintaining security. At the heart of the development is the concept of the grid-forming resource (GFR) which brings together both the technologies of renewable energy resource and grid-forming converter. Extending on an extensive review, a grid-forming converter control and protection scheme is presented to ensure operation under small-and large-signal transients as needed for overall system security. The scheme is shown to be practical in offering inertial response emulation and frequency control based on droop characteristics to maintain power balances rapidly, to control voltages, as well as to support transient stability enhancement under grid faults. The integration with the control of wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) creates a grid-forming wind park as the prototype of the GFR. Feedforward signals exchanged between grid and resource-side controls enhance fast overall controllability. The principal claims are substantiated based on a scenario developed in the European project initiative MIGRATE with a focus on the Irish power transmission system. The model comprises more than 2000 individual WECSs grouped into wind parks, where ten wind parks are GFRs. The transient behavior of this scenario comprising 100 % converter-interfaced generation is shown to be superior compared with a counterpart case comprising synchronous machinery. The results validate the fact that GFRs with their proposed controls are expected to be key elements in creating a renewable and secure electric power system.

Urban sustainability responsibilities of the European planning profession in the next decades

ABSTRACT Presently dominant urban planning strategies and discourses do not sufficiently address the crises of climate change, loss of nature and unjust inequality globally and nationally. The planning profession should interpret what it would imply for urban and regional development to effectively counteract these crises, reflect on possibilities and hindrances for meeting these challenges under current societal conditions, and try to raise a counter-discourse in opposition to mainstream planning approaches. Scenarios and alliance-building with stakeholders supporting sustainable transformation can be helpful for this purpose. Planning research should place stronger emphasis on investigating consequences of European urban and regional development for environmental sustainability and social justice not only locally but also at a wider geographical scale including the Global South. There is a need for strengthened regional planning across local administrative boundaries in urban regions, and for binding regulations promoting sustainability at a national, European, and global scale. Planners should, however, not be naïve about the possibilities for sustainability planning under present societal conditions. The profession should therefore also explore pathways for societal transformations necessary for overcoming present barriers to sustainable spatial planning.

What’s next? Some priorities for young planning scholars to tackle tomorrow’s complex challenges

ABSTRACT Many European planning schools recently celebrated their 50th anniversary: a sign that planning education became a distinct and established discipline in Europe. Simultaneously, political regimes, paradigms, cultures, and economies continue fuelling mixed connotations within the planning sector. Additionally, growing wicked problems in built areas emphasize an even greater need for well-trained planners. These challenges span climate crises, wars, authoritarian regimes, socio-political instability, and constantly changing global geopolitics. The increasingly complex demands on planners are highly pertinent for Young Academics (YA). They require political, regulatory, and technical knowledge to navigate the profession. To support them and represent their voices in planning debates, the YA network (YAN) of AESOP was established in 2003. We, the current Coordination Team, use this paper to voice our take on the question of what planning challenges dominate and what can be done to prepare YAs better for the future. Building on plenty discussions within the YAN, literature, and AESOP’s activities at large, we propose: A challenge compilation for the profession, a list of core capacities, and a framework for future education. This shall aid in enabling YAs and educators today to set the foundation for planning sustainable and people-centered settlements tomorrow.

Territorial and Consumption-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions Assessments: Implications for Spatial Planning Policies

The quantification of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is increasingly important in spatial planning for regions, cities, and areas. The combination of territorial and consumption-based accounting (CBA) approaches can currently be considered best practice for calculating GHG emissions at sub-national levels, in terms of informing local decision-making about the different climate impacts of spatial planning policies, both within the boundaries of a given region and for the inhabitants of that region. This study introduces four European case studies that were conducted using the two quantification approaches to assess the climate impacts of locally relevant planning policies. The case studies represent different scales of spatial planning, different European planning systems, and different situations in terms of data availability. Territorial results are not suitable for inter-regional comparison, but rather for internal monitoring, while CBA allows for comparison and provides a comprehensive picture of the global carbon footprint of residents, however, with indications that are more difficult to link to spatial planning decisions. Assessing impacts, and in particular interpreting results, requires both methodological understanding and knowledge of the local context. The results of the case studies show that setting climate targets and monitoring the success of climate action through a single net emissions figure can give false indications. The study shows that the two approaches to quantifying GHG emissions provide complementary perspectives on GHG emissions at the sub-national level and thus provide a more thorough understanding of the GHG emission patterns associated with spatial planning policies. The identification of the regional differences in GHG emission sources and mitigation potentials are the main functions of sub-national GHG inventories and the impact assessment for spatial planning. Harmonization of the data collection for sub-national GHG inventories and the transparency of underlying assumptions would greatly support the coherence of climate action and the implications to spatial planning.

Compensating Downzoning. A Comparative Analysis of European Compensation Schemes in the Light of Net Land Neutrality

Most spatial planning systems are growth-oriented and focus on upzoning. However, downzoning is becoming increasingly important, as European planning is taking a “resourcial turn” and needs to integrate net land neutrality. Yet downzoning may entail financial compensation for landowners losing their development rights. Understanding the legal and financial mechanisms of compensation schemes is therefore essential for planners. This comparative study investigates the rationale, conditions, and calculations of five European compensation schemes. Our research shows how compensation schemes differ significantly within the European context and concludes that a feasible and affordable compensation scheme is essential for adaptable planning.

An attempt to locate the Russian spatial planning system within the European planning families

Since the end of the 1980s, several studies have been conducted aiming at understanding the heterogeneity of spatial planning traditions across Europe. Over the years, such studies became more comprehensive and included many European (and not only the European Union) countries. Nevertheless, some parts of Europe (e.g., the Western Balkans or the post-Soviet countries) usually remained excluded from the mentioned studies. To mitigate this gap, the paper focuses on the case of Russia. Using a twofold methodological approach, the paper firstly examines the attributes of Russian spatial planning (through a multi-layered analysis of the socio-economic and institutional settings, the evolution of spatial planning over a century, and contemporary planning instruments and procedures of plan-making), to then compare the attributes of the Russian spatial planning system to the core features of the European planning styles. As a result, the elements of multiple distinct spatial planning styles can be traced in Russian spatial planning: land use management and regional economic planning seem to prevail, whilst comprehensive integrated and urbanism traditions are less represented but not absent. Bearing in mind the complexity of the exercise, this contribution should be considered a preliminary attempt to enlarge the existing comparative studies beyond European countries.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as promoter of Open Research

An online interview with Ashley Farley, program officer of Knowledge and Research Services at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As of 2023, the Gates Foundation earmarks some 8,000,000,000 US Dollars annually to its various philanthropic goals. Focusing on global health and global development, the Gates Foundation supports a wide range of research and development activities in fields such as child nutrition, family planning, eradication of poverty and diseases, etc. In this podcast, Farley explains why open research lies at the heart of the Gates Foundation’s strategies.
 The Gates Foundation has been an early adopter and partner of the European Plan S initiative, which from the very start has been very well aligned to its own policies. Gates Foundation grantees are obliged to make all publications stemming from project funding available in open access, and, if possible, to archive their research datasets openly as well. The Gates Open Research Platform (a combination of a preprint-service and a megajournal) is an alternative route for grantees who do not want to publish their articles through traditional publication outlets. Accompanying datasets are stored elsewhere but with links from the platform. In addition, the non-profit organization OA.Works helps the Gates Foundation monitor that requirements are met. Among other things, OA.Works has been instrumental in setting up a Share Your Paper service to help researchers (not just grantees of the Gates Foundation) verify whether a version of their article can be legally uploaded to the Green Open Access repository Zenodo. Farley is also working directly with publishers to make sure that Gold Open Access that has been paid for is provided properly and in line with the contract. The Biden Administration recently announced a Year of Open Science in the USA. Farley sees various agencies, such as NASA, as driving forces behind this declaration. Gradually, a cultural shift is bound to take place, as prejudices towards open sharing of data, peer review reports and even grant applications will be replaced with a culture permeated by more open and transparent ways of doing research, Farley argues. She also argues strongly in favor of the Rights Retention Strategy and sees it as a way of empowering researchers by securing that they have more control of their work.
 First published online January 31, 2023.

The urban expansion of Berlin, 1862–1900: Hobrecht’s Plan

This paper investigates the original intentions and modifications of Berlin’s 19th-century urban development plan, particularly the different spatial configurations at the local level. The creation, adaptation and long-term impacts of the Hobrecht Plan of Berlin are assessed for urban design and planning principles used for urban expansion between 1862 and 1900. The 1862 ‘Development Plan for the Environs of Berlin’ represents a cornerstone on which the inner city is built even to this day. Morphological analyses are used to describe design parameters and the associated design principles. The origins of ideas, spatial development and planning statements are examined in relation to each other based on written and drawn archival materials together with geographical information system-based plan analysis. Individual district plans and explanatory reports provide a basis for alternative interpretations of Hobrecht’s Berlin in 19th-century urban expansion planning. The example of Berlin illustrates the emergence and transition of 19th-century urban structures, as well as the design principles underpinning morphological aspects of street networks, public space systems and block patterns. This analysis serves as a reference in the history of European planning paradigms and urban planning models in general. It highlights the contribution of small-scale urban development with a focus on squares and local patterns. <em><strong>Practice relevance</strong></em> This study of the planning principles for public spaces and the specific urban design characteristics provides insights into the origins of the planning discipline, the structure of master plans, and processes of formation and transformation in urban neighbourhoods. A combination of city-wide and small-scale district approaches were used to plan Berlin’s expansion. This historical analysis shows that planning and schematic designs without state regulation compromised urban planning ideas and necessary planning parameters. The dependence on free market mechanisms lacked minimum standards and regulatory restrictions on building density. Small-scale urban designs were created to accommodate urban growth. Lessons on the balance and trade-offs between free market and regulated approaches to urban design are applicable to the expansion of cities today. Street patterns, block size, public green spaces (squares, boulevards, parks), building height and density require careful control and distribution. Failure to do so often results in poor urban conditions.

Sustainable water management and local communities: strategies and case studies to achieve SDG 6 in Hungary

Climate change affects all areas of our lives, especially the quality and quantity of water. The 6th goal of the Sustainable Development Gaols deals with problems affecting water, and among its goals, local communities are also given a significant role, just like in the European planning documents. These documents promote sustainable water management solutions that enable integrated and cost-effective interventions. In this paper, I am looking for the answer to how sustainable water management solutions can contribute to the fulfilment of SDG 6 and what effects they have on local communities. In addition to the relevant literature and document review, I conducted expert interviews with specialists who were already involved in such projects and I analyse three case studies with sustainable water management solutions. Results show that these solutions have a significant impact not only on the physical natural environment, but also on residents’ habits and they have a strong identity-forming role, so they are suitable to contribute to the fulfilment of SDG 6.

PLANNING OF SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT IN TIMES OF WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION: A VISION FOR UKRAINE

In 2022, Ukraine became the object of full-scale russian aggression, which led to human casualties and destruction, and landscape degradation. The final consequences of the hostilities are yet to be assessed, while the need for large-scale reconstruction of the country and its regions is once again evident. In this context, a comprehensive vision of the principles of the development of territories in the post-war period is of particular relevance. The article pays attention to the framework requirements for the planning process in Ukraine and the peculiarities of the documents to be developed at the national and local levels. It has been emphasized that in view of European integration, the General Scheme of Planning of the Territory of Ukraine is the most important document which defines conceptual solutions for planning and rational use of the territory of our state, maintaining a full-fledged living environment, ensuring sustainable development, environmental protection, historical, architectural and cultural sites, determining state priorities and conditions for the development of individual regions and settlements. It should be formed as an interactive modeling system of state management that will determine the strategy for the spatial development of Ukraine as part of the European planning space. The key directions for updating the existing General Scheme have been identified. The processes of reforming urban planning documentation at the local level have been analyzed, with special attention to the proposed integrated recovery programs. The importance of further introduction into the planning process of methods related to the assessment of territories and impacts on the environment and public health has been emphasized.