Rescaling of Planning Power: Comparing Functional Planning Reforms in Six European Countries

Abstract

The chapter focuses on the rescaling of planning power in six EU countries. Rescaling of planning power refers both to vertical redistribution of planning competences among the jurisdictions (at the national, regional, and local levels) and to horizontal reallocation of competences and roles among different actors (public, private, non-profit sector, inter-municipal cooperation). Furthermore, the different responses of the national planning systems to the common driving forces of Europeanization, marketization, and economic crisis are highlighted. The comparative analysis of the planning reforms in six European countries, with different starting conditions (local government type, capacities, supervision, planning type) has shown both different and common features concerning the trends of the rescaling of planning power (up-scaling, down-scaling, trans-scaling).