The Productive Role of Future Expectations in Participatory Spatial Planning. A Case Study on Urban Park Development in The Netherlands

Abstract

Spatial planning is an inherently future-oriented practice charged with future expectations. Strikingly, the productive role of these expectations has received little scholarly attention. We adopted a grounded theory approach to study the participatory planning process for Seelig Park in Breda, the Netherlands. We observed that expectations are flexible, dynamic and diverse and they can be tuned to fit and justify actions and decisions while keeping the planning process in motion. We conclude that expectations become productive as a means for ‘recalibration,’ reflecting the continuous quest for equilibrium between action and legitimacy in the politically negotiated context of spatial planning.

Keywords:

• participatory planning
• expectations
• future
• recalibrations
• The Netherlands

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ferry van de Mosselaer

Ferry van de Mosselaer is a senior researcher and lecturer Design Research at Fontys Academy for the Creative Economy in the Netherlands. He holds an MSc degree in cultural geography from Wageningen University (2010) and obtained his PhD at KU Leuven (Belgium) with his dissertation on co-creation in spatial strategy formation. His current research interests focus on the intersection of design research, social innovation, futures research, socio-spatial development and participation. Email: [email protected]

Dominique Vanneste

Dominique Vanneste is Professor emeritus at KU Leuven, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Division of Geography & Tourism. Her present research interests are: Economic geography, Heritage Tourism and Destination Management. By combining these fields, she looks at heritage tourism as a lever for development of urban neighborhoods as well as rural areas and its contribution to the sense of place among visitors as well as identity of locals. Email: [email protected]

Patrick van der Duin

Patrick van der Duin studied macroeconomics at the University of Amsterdam and worked successively at KPN Research, TU Delft, Fontys Hogeschool and the Netherlands Study Center for Technology Trends. He is currently self-employed at 'Foresight & Innovation Management’ and Co-Editor in Chief of Futures. Email: [email protected]