Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Pages: 207-224

Journal: Spatial Research and Planning

Volume number: 81

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 0034-0111

eISSN: 1869-4179

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.14512/rur.941

Publisher: Oekom Verlag

Abstract: 
As a contribution to the debate on deregulation of spatial planning and lean regional plans, this paper presents the first long-term study for Germany analysing the regulatory intensity of all regional plans legally valid in 2017 on the topics of settlement and open space development over time. As a final result, the assumption of a general deregulation and streamlining of regional plans cannot be confirmed. In contrast, changes in the legal basis, such as the priority of inner over outer urban development, have led to a continuous increase in the regulatory intensity over time, particularly in the case of positive growth management policies with an active role of regional planning. At the same time, there is evidence of streamlining tendencies in some states, which can partly be interpreted as deregulation tendencies. To date, however, they are merely an expression of state-specific ways of shaping regional planning and not a sign of an accelerated deregulation competition.

Harvard Citation style: Eichhorn, S., Diller, C. and Pehlke, D. (2023) The Development of the Regulatory Intensity of German Regional Plans from 1985 to 2017. An Empirical Contribution to the Discussion on the Loss of Importance of Spatial Planning, Spatial Research and Planning, 81(3), pp. 207-224. https://doi.org/10.14512/rur.941

APA Citation style: Eichhorn, S., Diller, C., & Pehlke, D. (2023). The Development of the Regulatory Intensity of German Regional Plans from 1985 to 2017. An Empirical Contribution to the Discussion on the Loss of Importance of Spatial Planning. Spatial Research and Planning. 81(3), 207-224. https://doi.org/10.14512/rur.941