The spatial planning systems of the Greater Region (Saarland, Lorraine, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, Wallonia and Rhineland-Palatinate) were analysed regarding the different regions’ basic principles of the legal framework. The research focused on domains such as urban design, transports and environment and pointed out similarities and differences, by domain, regarding the national/regional planning systems.
Three colloquiums were organised, in which experts of each region tested and discussed how an authentic planning process of one region (e.g., transports: planning and implementation of the motorway A8 and A13 Saarland - Luxembourg) would have been conducted in all the other regions taking into account the specific national/regional legal frameworks.
The report includes a diagram for each domain, comparing the planning processes in all four regions.

INTERREG IIIC programme, RFO E-Bird

For all three domains, the planning systems show considerable structural differences in terms of planning instruments, administrative structures, citizen participation and the legal framework. Similarities exist, due to EU-laws, mainly regarding environmental assessments. For each domain the conclusion was that the differences in the planning systems prevail over similarities.
Interregional planning could be improved by cross-border planning concepts regarding specific domains, especially in the field of regional development and natural parks.
The project provided a first basis for the harmonisation of the different planning systems.

Chair for public law, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern
Germany
http://www.uni-kl.de/wcms/1920.html
Prof. Dr. jur. Willy Spannowsky (Chair for public law and judge at higher regional court)

03/07/2008

/07/2007

Ministerium des Innern und für Sport Rhineland-Palatine, Ministerium für Umwelt Saarland, Conseil Régional de Lorraine, Ministère de l'Intérieur - DATER Aménagement général du Territoire Luxembourg, Direction Générale de l’Aménagement du Territoire, du Logement et du Patrimoine Wallone, Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft Belgiens

research

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Land use