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Planning across Europe

European Spatial Planning

Each European Union (EU) member state has a different way of planning for development. However, increasingly member states have acknowledged that planning issues cross transnational boundaries. This has led to a changing emphasis towards more co-operative planning in Europe.

There have also been numerous initiatives at European level on spatial planning that have prompted reforms of planning systems in many countries. These include EU Directives such as the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive, the Public Participation Directive and the Water Framework Directive.

Further information about planning in different European countries:

 

Planning in England

National policies are translated into Regional Spatial Strategies prepared by the Regional Assemblies. These documents set out a development strategy for each region over a 10-20 year period. Local Authorities refer to the Regional Spatial Strategies to produce the Local Development Documents, the policy framework around which local planning decisions are made.

Local Authorities have some control over what information is included in the Local Development Framework. However, there are three documents that must be included:

  • A Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) setting out how the Authority will consult with the public on plans and applications
  • The Core Strategy including the vision, objectives and overarching policies
  • An Allocations Documents setting out major allocations for developments such as housing, employment, industry, leisure etc.

There is now increased emphasis on the active involvement of the public in development planning.

(Diagram: Overview of planning in England)

Further information about UK Planning:

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Planning in France

National policy on spatial planning in France is set out in the nine Schémas de Services Collectifs, which provide a strategic framework for development over a 20-year period. The Schémas are translated into a regional framework in the 13 regions through the Schémas Régionaux d'Aménagement et de Développement du Territoire. At the local level, the Municipalities are responsible for producing the local planning documents against which planning decisions are made:

  • The Schéma de Cohérence Territorial sets out plans for development over the medium and long-term; and
  • The Plan Local d’Urbanisme, which contains more specific detail on development plans and land-use zones within each municipality

Public consultation in France is usually undertaken on a voluntary basis but is increasingly being given a higher priority.

(Diagram: Overview of planning in France)

Useful links for further information about French planning:

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Planning in Germany

The Federal Government sets out the national principles and policies for spatial planning in the "Raumordnungspolitischer Handlungsrahmen". These are translated into regional development plans (Landesentwicklungsplan/programm) in each of the 16 federal states (Länder). The regional development plans are transformed into more detailed 15-20 year sub-regional plans (Regionalplan (Regionales Entwicklungskonzept)) which, together with the higher level plans, provide a framework for the local planning documents prepared by the municipalities:

  • The local strategic plan (Flächennutzungsplan), which sets out how the local community will be developed in 10-20 years;
  • The landscape development plan (Landschaftsplan), which focuses on environmental issues in context with the local strategic plan (10-20 years); 
  • The local development plan (Bebauungsplan), which contains more specific details on urban developments including issues such as urban design; and
  • The open space plan/green structure plan (Grünordnungsplan), which is related to the local development plan and contains specific details on environmental issues in the local area, for example, what trees have to be planted in public areas.

Local Authorities are required to consult the public on draft plans at an early stage.

(Diagram: Overview of planning in Germany)

Useful links for further information about German planning:

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Planning in the Netherlands

The National Spatial Strategy (Nota Ruimte 2004) for the Netherlands is produced by the Ministry of Housing, Planning and the Environment and sets the framework for the regional spatial plans developed at a provincial level. These regional development plans (Streekplans) cover sub-regional areas encouraging cooperation across provincial Government boundaries. Each municipality is responsible for producing the detailed local land use plan (Bestemmingsplan), which forms the basis for decision-making on planning.

The planning system in the Netherlands has an emphasis on promoting developments and encouraging community participation in planning at the local level.

(Diagram: Overview of planning in the Netherlands)

Useful links for further information about Dutch planning:

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