Sustainability regulations in urban planning: The experience of the Autonomous Community of Valencia (Spain)

Abstract

Changes in land use have been very intense in Spain over recent years, these being especially important in the Autonomous Community of Valencia (ACV). Changes in the situation of economic activities and in the real estate market have also taken place in a drastic way in a very short time. Artificial surfaces in the ACV increased 1.770 ha per year from 2000 to 2006 on and the increase between 1990 and 2000 was 1.794 ha per year. Between 2004 and 2007, an intense process of regulation, both of urban and regional planning, took place; three Acts and two Regulations were introduced by the ACV and another two Regulations were introduced by Central Government. Experience has been very irregular up until today. Laws have introduced many new concepts and ideas, but in many cases, the way in which have been designed and developed has rarely been systematic or coherent. Despite all of these legal changes, a complete set of essential problems already exists that has yet been not approached. © 2009 WIT Press.