Equity concerns in transformative planning: Barcelona’s Superblocks under scrutiny

Abstract

Transformative planning radically restructures urban land uses, designs, and streetscapes to respond to climate change and improve residents’ health and quality of life. We examine how transformative planning may overlook critical questions related to equity relying on the example from Barcelona’s transformative plan to implement Superblocks. We argue that questions about distributional and relational equity, including intersectional equity-driven needs assessment and prioritization; spatialized local benefits or burdens; mobility justice goals; exclusion and green gentrification, together with procedural equity, must be high on the agenda for transformative planning to achieve urban justice for all. They may also involve key trade-offs between addressing social and environmental vulnerabilities.