Adapting to Change.

QC 20241115

Abstract

Urban and regional planning evolves in response to societal changes andpolitical decisions, which redefine and adjust the scope of planning forexample through changes in the regulatory framework. Contemporaryplanning is shaped by the neoliberal shift at the end of the last century, whichbrought a wave of deregulations and privatizations that transformed therationale of and methods for planning practice. Moreover, the emerging globalagenda for sustainable development called for changes in practices and newways of organizing society. Planning practice has to respond to change andadapt to a shifting societal context, finding new ways to guide urban andregional development and address sustainability challenges through innovativepractices and interventions. A core challenge that has to be addressed is thefragmentation of responsibilities for planning and policymaking.This thesis examines planning practices to evaluate various approaches andtheir implications. The overall aim of this thesis is to explore how planningpractices have developed since the 1990s and adapted to changing societalcontext and needs. The thesis consists of a cover essay and six scientific papers,addressing empirical studies of transport infrastructure planning and urbanand regional planning in Sweden and other European contexts. The researchpresented in these papers spans ca 25 years, a period during which planningconditions for planning have changed, allowing for a discussion of planningpractices in relation to the evolving planning context. The papers employ aqualitative research approach, combining multiple methods for data collection.Based on literature review and thematic analysis of the findings in the papers,the following key issues have been identified for discussion. First, the use ofintegrative approaches in planning practice, which help bridging fragmentedresponsibilities among sectors and levels of governance. Second, the capacityof local planning practices to provide integrated responses to urgentsustainability challenges and societal needs, given the shifting conditions forplanning. Third, the impact of planning and learning practices on the longtermdevelopment of urban and regional planning.The evaluation of planning practices reveals two modes of integration: policyintegration and interactive approaches for project development. While policyintegration is often hindered by institutional logics and existing governancestructures, examples from regional land-use and transport agreements inNorway and Finland illustrate alternative approaches to enhance integration.Interactive approaches, involving collaboration between local authorities andprivate developers, have been effective in addressing sustainability challenges.However, the informal nature of these processes and the dual role ofmunicipalities as both landowners and planning authorities raise concernsabout the legitimacy of public planning. Additionally, many achievementsfocus on ecological modernization in urban areas, often overlooking the needfor affordable housing in other regions.Finally, studies of planning practices highlight the increased complexity ofplanning and the broader involvement of expertise across disciplines.Experiences from interactive approaches also suggest that planning practicesare increasingly functioning as spaces for reflexive social learning.

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