Expectation management at the local scale: Legal failure of public participation for large urban planning projects

Thomas Hartmann; Fennie van Straalen; Tejo Spit

doi:10.6092/1970-9870/5369

Thomas Hartmann Wageningen UR, Environmental Sciences, Land Use Planning Group, PO box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
Fennie van Straalen Wageningen UR
Tejo Spit Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Human Geography and Planning University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, PO-Box 80 115, 3508 TC Utrecht, the Netherlands and Wageningen UR, Environmental Sciences, Land Use Planning Group, PO box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6092/1970-9870/5369

Keywords: Participation, planning law, regional planning, Germany, the Netherlands

Abstract

The complex nature of large urban planning projects often results in delays or budget overruns. One of the causes is conflicts of interests between stakeholders. Recent planning failures in projects, due to limited public participation, sparked debates to increase citizen participation in formal planning procedures. This paper investigates how planning law supports public participation in large planning projects that cross municipal borders. The juridical analysis of German and Dutch codified law is based on four elements: literal content, institutional positioning, historical context, and teleological meaning of a legal text. The paper furthermore distinguishes four rationales for participation in planning: support,legitimization, improving plan quality, and education. The analysis shows that these rationales cannot be comprehensively regulated by codified law. Law can enhance the legitimate character of participation, but currently lacks the ability to organize support, improvement of planning, and education at the regional planning level.

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Author Biographies

Thomas Hartmann, Wageningen UR, Environmental Sciences, Land Use Planning Group, PO box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands

Dr. Thomas Hartmann is Associate Professor at the Land Use Planning Group of Wageningen University & Research (thomas.hartmann@wur.nl<mailto:thomas.hartmann@wur.nl>). Thomas Hartmann has a special expertise and research interest in (1) Planning theory, with a specialization in aspects of justice and ethics in the city; (2) Land policies and planning instruments; and (3) Land and water governance, with a focus on risk management of river floods. Thomas Hartmann is also the acting vice president of the international academic association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (www.plpr-association.org<http://www.plpr-association.org>).

Fennie van Straalen, Wageningen UR

Dr. Fennie van Straalen is an external researcher at the Land Use Planning Group of Wageningen University & Research (fennie.vanstraalen@wur.nl). Her field of research includes civil initiatives, sustainable development, climate change, land policy, and regional land development.

Tejo Spit, Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Human Geography and Planning University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, PO-Box 80 115, 3508 TC Utrecht, the Netherlands and Wageningen UR, Environmental Sciences, Land Use Planning Group, PO box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands

Prof dr. Tejo Spit (1955) is a full professor in urban and regional planning at the Department of Human Geography and Planning (Utrecht University). He is also associated with the Land Use Planning Group at Wageningen University. His specialisms are: land policy, planning methodology, infrastructure planning and administrative aspects of spatial planning.

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