Flexibility in Planning and the Consequences for Public-value Capturing in UK, Spain and the Netherlands

Abstract

In the 1960s, flexibility was often seen in planning literature as a negative feature, whereas today it is perceived by planners and policy-makers as a positive asset to cope with the challenges of growing complexity, opportunism and diversity in cities. The discussion seems to rest between two approaches. While planning should be flexible to facilitate a non-linear and multi-layered decision-making system, implementation should not be too flexible as the public sector might lose the controlling power and the private sector might gain increasing influence in urban development. This paper uses empirical data from case-based research on British, Spanish and Dutch urban regeneration projects, and provides an analysis of the effects of an important feature of flexibility on public-value capturing. Public-value capturing is the level at which public bodies manage to make developers pay for public infrastructure—infrastructure provision, public roads and space, public facilities and buildings, affordable and social housing—and eventually capture part of the economic value increase. This important aspect of flexibility is the level of certainty about future development possibilities before negotiations between developers and local planning bodies take place.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the financial assistance of the Dutch government (Habiforum Program Innovative Land Use), and of the Delft University of Technology (Delft Centre for Sustainable Urban Areas).

Notes

Interview with Whithaker, Andrew, Head of Planning of the Home Building Federation, 2 July 2007, 9.30–11.45.

Interview with Rubio, Rafael, Chairman of Local Representatives, Social Democratic party (PSPV) in Local Council of Valencia, 23 November 2006, 9:45–11:15.

Interview with Montiel, Antonio, significant member of Salvem, a civil organization for the defence of the natural environment and historic and cultural urban patrimony, 21 November 2006, 20:30–22:30.

Interview with Raga, Francisco, Head of the PAI Department of the Municipality of Valencia; 25 October, 13:00–14:00; and 6 November 2006, 9:30–10:30; 15 October 2008.

Interview with Verdaas, Co, Provincial Government of Gelderland; 14 November 2007, 8:00–9:00; 19 November 2007, 8:30–9:00; comments on the transcript of 21 November 2007; written answers to questionnaire of 12 February 2008.

Interview with Fokkema, Jan, Director of Neprom, developers' umbrella organization; 27 November 2007, 15:15–16:30; comments on the transcript of 29 November 2008.

Interview with De Wolff, Herman, Delft University of Technology; 11 February 2008, 16:50–17:00; 12 March 2008, 15:00–15:15.

Interview with Van Zundert, J.W., author of a handbook on planning legislation, 14 March 2008, 14:30–15:10.