The urban planning instruments in Spain. Comparative study (I)

Abstract

The New Urban Agenda of the United Nations approved in Habitat III (2016), considers that “the reactivation of integrated and long-term urban and territorial planning and design […]” are key elements of the new urban paradigm worldwide. The long tradition of the Spanish urban system and the extensive and complete regulation that regional laws make on planning instruments, suggest that Spain is in an advantageous situation in the matter. However, as reflected in the diagnosis of the Spanish Urban Agenda (SUA), the reality is quite different and shows the lack of flexibility and excessive complexity of many Spanish urban plans. This comparative study, which is divided into two parts, wants to delve into this diagnosis, offering precise evidence on the planning situation, and highlighting some of the changes and innovations that are beginning to be sensed in urban planning legislation, that is-at the same time-het-erogeneous in the formal, and very conservative in its material aspects. To carry on with this tasks, the first part of the study identifies the basic State framework with an impact on planning regulations, followed by the analysis and the classification of planning instruments in all the Autonomous Communities and the contents of general planning instruments. The second part of the study will focus on the administra-tive procedures of the plans and their documentation.