Spatial Planning In Poland Research Articles

Collaborative planning? Not yet seen in Poland. Identifying procedural gaps in the planning system 2003–2023

Collaborative planning aims to increase the legitimacy of decision-making in spatial development. In this approach, planning involves debate and engagement in discourse, and participation and interaction between actors are thus at the heart of the planning process. This article examines whether the planning system in Poland as defined for the period 2003–2025 provides a level of participation and deliberation and other qualities that together allow it to be classified as a collaborative model. The legal procedures in the most commonly used planning instruments are therefore analysed in detail to determine whether they provide honest, open, equal and transparent access to the decision-making process to all stakeholders. The analysis reveals numerous deficiencies in the planning procedures that undermine the collaborative nature of spatial planning in Poland. The study summarises the experience of twenty years of spatial planning practice in Poland and provides a useful starting point for assessing the new planning system that has gradually been being implemented since 2023.

Renewable energy sources in spatial planning

The article addresses the problem of taking renewable energy sources into account in spatial planning in Poland, especially in planning documents adopted at the level of municipalities, namely the study of conditions and directions of spatial development (after changes the structure plan) and the land use plan. It presents the conditions for specifying the location of devices (installations) based on renewable energy sources, as specified in the Polish Act on Spatial Planning and Development of 27 March 2003, as well as the fundamental principles of taking renewable energy sources into account in the planning documents adopted by municipalities.

Spatial planning needs towards Copernicus Land Monitoring Services: Case studies from Poland and Norway

The objective of this study is to identify the needs related to geospatial LC, LU, and LCLUC information for spatial planning in Poland and Norway, and examine the usefulness of CLMS products in the context of these planning systems. The research has conducted based on a comparative analysis of two planning systems, to indicate areas where CLMS can improve or supplement national spatial data. The study shows that CLMS can provide information on up-to-date spatial data showing actual LC/LU/LCLUC, but that the degree of detail and the accuracy may be insufficient. CLMS data is harmonised across Europe and thus meets the need expressed by international organisations, for data that are consistent at a continental level. This is not a requirement in national planning systems in Poland and Norway, where the needs are regulated by national legislation. The thematic and geometric accuracy of national data sources are usually better than the data provided by CLMS, but CLMS might fill gaps when specific topics are missing in national mapping programs.

Spatial Planning as a Public Management Tool in Poland: Premises and Reality

The aim of this paper is to assess the functioning of spatial planning in Poland in the context of public management objectives. Drawing on the concepts of New Public Management, we use the category of stakeholders and public value generated for stakeholders. Two groups of stakeholders in spatial planning are distinguished, namely public (national and local government) entities, and private entities (including individuals and businesses). We describe the mechanisms of stakeholders’ influence on spatial planning and the effects of this influence on the development of space. We found that the actual spatial planning mechanisms in Poland are aberrational from the perspective of public management. The ubiquity of these aberrations (in diverse municipalities) allows us to rule out the most obvious types of causes, particularly the incompetence or corruption of local authorities or administrative apparatus. Therefore, it is postulated that the causes of the aberrations are structural and inherent to the legal system that impacts spatial planning both directly and indirectly. We propose solutions to improve the situation through the appropriate management of relations with stakeholders in processes implemented by a public entity. The article presents a model of such management. A change in the legal context – above all an amendment of the law regulating spatial planning procedures – provides an opportunity to balance the impact of various stakeholders on spatial planning arrangements.

A Geoportal Supporting Spatial Planning in Poland: Concept and Pilot Version

Due to the complexity of planning processes, as well as the desire to satisfy stakeholders and entities involved in spatial development and planning procedures, there is a clear need to create a platform for managing spatial development planning information. The aim of this paper is to present a project and pilot version of an urban platform (spatial planning geoportal), which is intended to be a solution used for the creation, analysis, and presentation of spatial data related to spatial planning. To implement the concept of the geoportal, one of the models used in systems and software engineering known as incremental execution was used, together with the language for documenting phases of an IT project – the Unified Modeling Language (UML). The concept includes a formal description of the geoportal functionalities using UML as well as the perspective of solution users and stakeholders. This paper also shows the functionality of the pilot version of the geoportal, which refers to spatial planning at the local level and local spatial development. The spatial planning geoportal presented in this paper adheres to the reform of spatial planning and is intended to help in conducting spatial policy, both at the local and central level. Establishment of the spatial planning geoportal may contribute to increasing the efficiency and quality of the spatial planning system in Poland, as well as other areas such as management of local government units, local and regional transport, and regional planning.

Selected aspects of the digitisation of spatial planning in the context of legislative changes in Poland

Digitisation of spatial planning can be considered multi-dimensionally. The more comprehensive the approach, the better the solutions will be. The idea of a step-by-step approach should bring the best end result. The obligation to create spatial data, which was introduced in Poland, in a way, forced municipalities or urban planners to acquire knowledge and skills in geoinformation and GIS software. The main objective of this article is to present the assumptions and propose a framework and further stages of digitisation of spatial planning in Poland. The specific objective is to present the legislation in the process of digitisation of spatial planning, which has been initiated or significantly modified by the author, and the procedure of which has started or was ongoing in the Department of Spatial Planning within the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology in June 2021. Thus, in addition to the implemented measures, the author also indicates the potential and benefits for urban planners, resulting from the creation of the graphic part of acts in vector form, but also outlines the importance of such studies for various groups of recipients and public administration. At the same time, the people for whom any solution is created – the general public – should not be forgotten.

Konstrukcja prawna planowania przestrzennego w Polsce w latach 1945–1989

The main objective of this paper is to present the legal construction of the spatial planning in Poland between 1945 and 1989, as well as its evaluation from the perspective of the development of spatial planning and management legislation. The thesis put forward in the paper is that between 1945 and 1989, i.e. in the years when the principle of self-governance was not supported by state institutions, spatial planning was detached from the needs of local communities. Analyzing the legal construction of the spatial planning in Poland between 1945 and 1989 showed a certain regularity, namely that the spatial order construction was difficult at that time due to the then socio-economic conditions resulting in the centrally controlled spatial development and a hierarchy of spatial planning acts. The paper indicates that in those years, there was a connection between spatial planning and building law, but it was not as strong as in the interwar period. The connotations with the environmental law in turn manifested themselves in the downplaying of environmental issues in spatial planning. The article shows that in the years 1945–1989, there was little interest from the legislator in the category of public interest, which at the time became known as “social interest”.

Challenges of Spatial Planning in Poland in the Context of Global Climate Change—Selected Issues

Contemporary spatial planning struggles with many difficulties resulting from, inter alia, ongoing climate change. Ongoing environmental transformations pose many challenges for spatial policy across the entire globe. The aim of this paper is to analyse the effects of climate change on urban spaces in Poland and to answer the question of whether planning practice promotes adaptation to climate change and, if so, to what extent. This paper uses a descriptive and comparative research methodology to interpret planning provisions used in selected local spatial development plans in terms of the arrangements that aim to prevent the negative consequences of climate change. The subject of the analysis is the content of general and detailed plans defined in the texts of the examined resolutions of applicable local plans in the Lower Silesia and Greater Poland voivodeships. This study assessed the validity of applying specific planning provisions. This interpretation was determined on the basis of a review of the current provisions in the Polish law, literature on the subject, as well as the author’s own professional experience in the field of spatial planning. The quantitative and qualitative research results are summarized in a table and also examined and described in detail. Examples of planning records that were used in the analysis of local plans are cited and compared. Finally, the adaptation challenges posed to spatial planning in Poland at the local level (communal) based on the obtained quantitative data on the issues were studied.

The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in Rural Land-use Planning in Poland: A Case Study of Zawidz Commune

ABSTRACT The most important document in spatial planning in Poland is the local plan. The article considers the possibility of using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method to select the location of local plans in cooperation with experts. The results of the study show that the use of the AHP method makes decisions made by local authorities credible. The paper demonstrates the utility of the tool for deciding where local plans should be developed. The case of Zawidz commune is used to illustrate how the priority of the land-use plan-making process can be decided using the indicators and methodology.

Urban resilience in spatial planning of polish cities - True or false? Transformational perspective

The system transformation initiated in Poland after 1989, the departure from the socialist model of spatial management, and the neoliberal economy and its paradigms have left their mark on the urban development in Poland. A need arose to confront the spatial planning system with new challenges and threats of both natural and socioeconomic nature. In this context, the concept of urban resilience seems to be a useful approach from the viewpoint of spatial planning. The aim of this article is to present the concept of urban resilience and its implementation in the planning process in the largest cities in Poland with a focus on the transformational perspective. In order to achieve the research goal of the study authors analyzed and evaluated 15 623 records of the data connected with spatial planning in 39 largest cities in Poland. Moreover this study was the first theoretical and empirical attempt to analyse and evaluate the planning situation in Poland after 1989 in context of urban resilience concept. The findings show that the spatial planning in Poland has a good legal framework for implementing urban resilience, but achieving full application of discussed concept requires adjustments at the executive level, concerning planning practice.

The risky business of planning reform – The evolution of local spatial planning in Poland

In many countries throughout the EU recent planning reforms have reduced the possibilities for comprehensive and long-term planning. This paper explores the factors that explain why one of these countries, Poland, lost many of its tools for coordinating the policies and practices affecting spatial organization at the local level. The study, based on the discourses of spatial planners, traces the institutionalisation of local spatial planning in Poland since the 1920s identifying dominant policy paradigms and internal and external determinants leading to the reform in the early 1990s. It shows that the planning reform was driven by attempts to adapt planning institutions to changing political and legal environments after 1989. The new institutional framework that emerged from the reform failed to introduce alternative and effective forms of local spatial planning. Once options for planning were reduced, it became difficult to revive them. The case of Poland shows that a revision of long-term planning institutions might have unexpected outcomes and that it might be difficult to restore particular instruments and planning approaches once they have been removed from the toolbox of the planning system.

Maritime Spatial Planning in the European Union on the Example of the Polish Part of the Baltic Sea

Spatial planning is an extremely powerful tool, which can be used for shaping the development of the largest spaces, including maritime space. In order to improve maritime management, the European Union decided to establish a framework in the form of a Directive to support planning processes in these areas. The result of the EU legislation will be land use plans, which will organize human activities in maritime areas in such a way as to meet environmental, economic and social objectives. The EU law applies to the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and the North-East Atlantic. However, since the internal regulations of individual EU countries differ from one another, the Polish part of the Baltic Sea was selected as an example. The conducted considerations include an analysis of the legal provisions that are to lead to the preparation of the above-mentioned plans. The research material includes both the provisions of the international and of the national laws. For the evaluation of the maritime spatial planning system, which is based on the above-mentioned research material, the SWOT/TOWS analysis has been used. This technique has been aimed at determining the directions of development of maritime spatial planning in Poland based on the current conditions of the spatial planning procedure for these areas as well as the future phenomena related to the implemented procedure for creating maritime area land use plans. It has been pointed out that maritime spatial planning should be carried out using the strengths of the current procedure and the external opportunities that would increase the importance of Polish maritime areas.

Database for monitoring the spatial management plans of the Polish marine areas. Updating and practical use of data

Planning and marine spatial development are based on an exceptionally wide range of knowledge and information which are used in the process of creating plans and their later evaluation. The first type is spatial data describing the present state of the natural and anthropogenic environment within a widely understood spectrum. Second type data are statistical information describing spatial occurrence in the environment. Geoinformation within a planning process is hugely important, as the quality of spatial data influences decisions made and final results of planning work. Undoubtedly, efficient spatial database management and creating a compatible system to operate it are the key elements of effective work in a planning process. In Europe, the monitoring process together with creation of tools supporting database management is highly developed. There is a range of examples for the use of the spatial information systems in work linked to preparation and evaluation of spatial management plans at sea. Due to the specifics of works related to spatial planning in Poland, this paper presents a new solution for the future monitoring of the generated plans. The nature of this paper is determined by the local approach to taking advantage of the ArcGis software related with the use of a range of tools in the monitoring approach to plans of spatial management of the Polish marine areas. The purpose is to demonstrate a selected tool which is supposed to improve the planners’ work, from the point of view of the use of statistical data linked to the dynamics of changes in the coastal area. This is an exemplary use of the tool which might be modified at will, according to the needs of a user. Due to such a solution, the tool can be adjusted to the most of required data based on statistical tables.

Legal and Organizational Framework for the use of Geoweb Methods for Public Participation in Spatial Planning in Poland: Experiences, Opinions and Challenges

Abstract Geoweb methods offer an alternative to commonly used public participation methods in spatial planning. This paper discusses two such geoweb methods – geo-questionnaire and geo-discussion in the context of their initial applications within the spatial planning processes in Poland. The paper presents legal and organizational framework for the implementation of methods, provides their development details, and assesses insights gained from their deployment in the context of spatial planning in Poland. The analysed case studies encompass different spatial scales ranging from major cities in Poland (Poznań and Łódź) to suburban municipalities (Rokietnica and Swarzędz in Poznań Agglomeration). The studies have been substantiated by interviews with urban planners and local authorities on the use and value of Geoweb methods in public consultations.

The Implementation of Spatial Planning Objects in a 3D Cadastral Model

The paper concerns spatial planning in Poland and its connection with the cadastre. The Polish spatial planning system defines the set of colours, lines, hatches, etc. destined for the preparations of spatial plans, though this has so far not been followed by a spatial planning model or application schema. The aim of this paper is to create a preliminary concept of the unified modelling language (UML) schema of database integrating 3D cadastre and 3D spatial planning. The authors initially define five unified modelling language classes representing spatial planning objects (four representing spatial objects and one a dictionary list). As spatial planning and cadastres are very strongly connected, these classes are implemented into a cadastral model that had been earlier enriched with 3D classes. The final results of this research are UML diagrams based on the Polish cadastral model as defined earlier in legal regulations. They comprise original cadastral model classes, 3D cadastral objects added in earlier research work, classes representing spatial planning objects and the relationships among them. Such a solution better connects cadastre and spatial planning on a structural level and introduces 3D elements into spatial planning which has basically been done in two dimensions.

Assessment of implementation of protection of mineral deposits in spatial planning in Poland

A complex of raw materials available in a given commune shapes its functional − spatial structure and affects local economic development. The use of the resource base of minerals depends largely on the management of the space and respecting the zoning restrictions connected with protection of mineral deposits. The urgent need to protect them is due to their non-renewable nature and progressive development of the land. Preserving access to deposits is essential to ensure future mineral supply necessary for the economic development. This article presents the results of the assessment of implementation of rules of protection of mineral deposits in spatial planning at the level of territorial units in Poland.The study has been conducted in twenty-three communes of the Lesser Poland voivodeship, for thirty-one unexploited mineral deposits designated for protection in the Spatial Development Plan of the Lesser Poland (Małopolskie) Voivodeship of 2003. In the study of conflict with development of the selected mineral deposits with the environment, factors related to land use, forms of nature protection, water conservation and planned land development have been evaluated. The assessment has taken into account the importance of individual factors of conflict by giving them weights by means of pairwise comparison method. Five classes of conflict of the deposit management have been proposed: non-conflicting deposit, small conflict, medium conflict, major conflict and very big conflict. Almost equal numbers of deposits (9) belong to the class characterized by a of medium, small and large conflicts. Road and technical projects as well as expected significant impact of exploitation on the environment restrain exploitation. The impact is related to the necessity of use of explosives during the exploitation and by the cumulative effect of the mining activity already existing nearby. Analysis of the planning documents of the communes has shown both inadequate protection of mineral resources, including designation of areas of deposits for single-family housing, and a few examples of properly maintained spatial planning in the field of protection of mineral deposits. Information obtained from the environmental survey has been supplemented by assessment of the social aspect. In nine communes it has been determined that the areas of mineral deposits are not subject to spatial conflicts but in seven communes there is opposite situation. The most important benefits from the mineral exploitation which has been indicated in the studied documents included: jobs, access to construction materials and development of the commune.Present work allowed to define the areas and the scale of conflicts induced by development of mineral deposits and to propose measures for rational management of mineral resources. Recognition of the existing and potential conflicts can help to make the right decisions concerning development of the area and minimising impacts of exploitation of the mineral deposits.

Impact of Spatial Planning on the Pre-Investment Phase of the Development Process in the Residential Construction Field

Abstract Insufficient due planning policy in Poland is subject to widespread and justified criticism. This applies to all levels of spatial management. Legal instruments governing spatial planning in Poland are passive - setting out only the legal framework corresponding to a particular area. They regulate what might be developed within its boundaries, however, they do not specify how it is to be accomplished. Therefore, there is a need to develop an integrated spatial development planning, in which also investors and/or stakeholders would be involved. Apart from answering to the question of what is going to be developed, it will also provide a very comprehensive and flexible implementation strategy having regard to different timelines and local amenities (facilities).This paper also brings an example showing how the spatial planning strategy was conducted for the development of the “Fort Bema” housing estates in the Warsaw district of Bemowo. It highlights the relevance of the planning phase for the subsequent in-use (operating) phase.

Spatial planning in Poland in the context of ‘inspire’ rules and amendment to the Spatial Planning and Development Act

Spatial planning in Poland in the context of ‘inspire’ rules and amendment to the Spatial Planning and Development Act

Wykorzystanie danych przestrzennych dotyczących miejsc parkingowych dla celów planowania przestrzennego – przykład centrum Łodzi

Planowanie przestrzenne jest jednym z podstawowych obszarów działalności samorządów lokalnych. Gminy posiadają władztwo planistyczne, dzięki czemu mogą kształtować wykorzystanie przestrzeni. Podstawowym instrumentem planowania przestrzennego w Polsce są miejscowe plany zagospodarowania przestrzennego, sporządzane przez władze lokalne fakultatywnie. W procedurze planistycznej wykorzystuje się różnego rodzaju materiały planistyczne, do których należą analizy, studia oraz opracowania tematyczne. Coraz częściej używane są dane przestrzenne, które gromadzi się z wykorzystaniem urządzeń GPS.Artykuł prezentuje analizę zasobu danych przestrzennych, określających położenie samochodów w deptakowej części ulicy Piotrkowskiej oraz w kwartałach przylegających. Dzięki zebranemu materiałowi możliwe było wykonanie analiz wskazujących potencjalne miejsca lokalizacji parkingów wielopoziomowych. Istotna stała się również analiza wskazująca, które z obszarów stanowią własność gminy. Tego rodzaju opracowania są doskonałym materiałem wejściowym dla planowania przestrzennego, pozwalającym na właściwe podejmowanie decyzji w zakresie lokalizacji obiektów. Wykorzystanie informacji przestrzennej w pracach planistycznych staje się coraz powszechniejsze, a niski koszt w pozyskiwaniu danych dla szczebla gminnego pozwala wskazywać ten zasób jako jedno z podstawowych źródeł prowadzenia analiz przestrzennych na potrzeby władz lokalnych.

The Use of Spatial Data Infrastructure in Environmental Management:an Example from the Spatial Planning Practice in Poland.

Today’s technology plays a crucial role in the effective use of environmental information. This includes geographic information systems and infrastructures. The purpose of this research is to identify the way in which the Polish spatial data infrastructure (PSDI) supports policies and activities that may have an impact on the environment in relation to one group of users, namely urban planners, and their tasks concerning environmental management. The study is based on a survey conducted in July and August, 2014. Moreover, the authors’ expert knowledge gained through urban development practice and the analysis of the environmental conservation regulations and spatial planning in Poland has been used to define the scope of environmental management in both spatial planning studies and spatial data sources. The research included assessment of data availability, infrastructure usability, and its impact on decision-making process. The results showed that the PSDI is valuable because it allows for the acquisition of data on environmental monitoring, agricultural and aquaculture facilities. It also has a positive impact on decision-making processes and improves numerous planners’ activities concerning both the inclusion of environmental indicators in spatial plans and the support of nature conservation and environmental management in the process of working on future land use. However, even though the infrastructure solves certain problems with data accessibility, further improvements might be proposed. The importance of the SDI in environmental management is noticeable and could be considered from many standpoints: Data, communities engaged in policy or decision-making concerning environmental issues, and data providers.