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Plan-Led Planning Systems in Development-Led Practices: An Empirical Analysis into the (Lack of) Institutionalisation of Planning Law

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  • Edwin Buitelaar
  • Maaike Galle
  • Niels Sorel

Abstract

Planning laws are usually made with good intentions, but do not always lead to good results—at least not when measured against their own goals. Since July 2008 the Netherlands has had a new planning act which aims for a plan-led system and a stronger role of the land-use plan in providing a framework for building permits—instead of these being granted through exemptions from the land-use plan—and in guiding spatial development. On the basis of quantitative data, we found that the land-use plan has become more important: more land-use plans have been adopted, both in absolute terms and relative to alternative measures. But functionally, these land-use plans are used primarily to follow and facilitate development instead of guiding it. Development control is still (inevitably) driven by development proposals. Although the paper looks at the Dutch case, an analysis into the relationship between planning law and its institutionalisation (or the lack thereof) at the local level is worthwhile for a wider audience. In our quest to understand the effects of changes in the law on the practice of development control, we use theories that look at the process of institutionalisation, especially of centrally designed formal institutions, such as legislation, that seek application at the local level, with its own (potentially conflicting) formal and informal institutions. We conclude the paper by arguing that changes in planning law are unsuccessful if they are not congruent with informal and formal institutions at the ‘street-level’ and if there is a lack of sufficient incentives to change the behaviour of local actors.

Suggested Citation

  • Edwin Buitelaar & Maaike Galle & Niels Sorel, 2011. "Plan-Led Planning Systems in Development-Led Practices: An Empirical Analysis into the (Lack of) Institutionalisation of Planning Law," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 43(4), pages 928-941, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:43:y:2011:i:4:p:928-941
    DOI: 10.1068/a43400
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Patsy Healey, 2004. "The Treatment of Space and Place in the New Strategic Spatial Planning in Europe," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 45-67, March.
    2. Claudia Williamson, 2009. "Informal institutions rule: institutional arrangements and economic performance," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 371-387, June.
    3. Bernard Chavance, 2008. "Formal and Informal Institutional Change : the Experience of Postsocialist Transformation," European Journal of Comparative Economics, Cattaneo University (LIUC), vol. 5(1), pages 57-71, June.
    4. Nurit Alfasi, 2006. "Planning Policy? Between Long-Term Planning and Zoning Amendments in the Israeli Planning System," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 38(3), pages 553-568, March.
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    1. Edwin Buitelaar & Maaike Galle & Niels Sorel, 2014. "The public planning of private planning: an analysis of controlled spontaneity in the Netherlands," Chapters, in: David Emanuel Andersson & Stefano Moroni (ed.), Cities and Private Planning, chapter 12, pages 248-268, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. David Emanuel Andersson & Stefano Moroni (ed.), 2014. "Cities and Private Planning," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 15788.
    3. Nurit Alfasi & Talia Margalit, 2014. "The challenge of regulating private planning initiatives," Chapters, in: David Emanuel Andersson & Stefano Moroni (ed.), Cities and Private Planning, chapter 13, pages 269-294, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    4. van Geet, Marijn Thomas & Lenferink, Sander & Arts, Jos & Leendertse, Wim, 2019. "Understanding the ongoing struggle for land use and transport integration: Institutional incongruence in the Dutch national planning process," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 84-100.
    5. Eero Valtonen & Heidi Falkenbach & Kauko Viitanen, 2017. "Development-led planning practices in a plan-led planning system: empirical evidence from Finland," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(6), pages 1053-1075, June.

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