The global challenges in Flanders (Belgium) Key questions for strategic spatial planning Peter Cabus
Overall title of the expert meeting: Global challenges in polycentric regions What role for strategic spatial planning? Contains 3 important elements: 1. Polycentric regions 2. Strategic 3. Spatial planning Sub-themes: 1. Demography 2. Energy 3. Climate change 4. Globalization 2
Content Sense of urgency Role of supra-regional / national frameworks Some key questions on the 4 sub-themes 3
Sence of urgency? Flanders adopted its first strategic spatial planning document in 1997: Flanders Open and Urban Plus = Overall view of spatial development from a number of leading principles Sustainable development via the principle of spatial capacity Deconcentrated clustering of economic activities Gateways as engine for development Infrastructures as location factor for and link between activities Network of brook and river valleys Open space corridors Minus= It s a societal consensus of 15 years ago Defensive strategy Rather quantitative approach New challenges and opportunities are difficult to cope with It has lost its strategic value 4
Flemish government started a process to arrive at a new policy plan: Spatial Policy Plan Flanders It has to have a mid and long term horizon (2020-2050) There is no predefined future Scenario s are an instrument to cope with an uncertain future: spatial planning scenario s are of crucial importance (e.g. 4 sub themes) It has to be strategic: What is strategic? In any case impact of global challenges on territorial development Role of supra regional / supra national frameworks We want to learn from this conference how strategic is filled in in different countries / regions for the 4 themes 5
Role of supra regional / national frameworks Intra Belgian context Supra Belgian context 6
Intra Belgian context: Competing strategic plans? Belgium: federal state Spatial planning competence = regions Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels 3 (competing?) strategic policy frameworks Brussels: Regional Development Plan (Gew.OP) Wallonia: Schéma de Développement de l Espace Régional - Wallonie (SDER) Flanders: Spatial Masterplan (RSV) 7
Supra-Belgian Context: Blurry status of EU-competence on spatial policy No Community responsibilities regarding spatial planning Developed outlines are a framework for policy guidance and not binding Principle of subsidiarity: policy developed at the most appropriate / lowest level New concept of Territorial Cohesion in Lisbon Treaty European planning 9
Benelux Outlines (1986, 1996) European frameworks for spatial development: Europe 2000 and 2000+ (1991, 1994), ESDP (1999) Territorial agenda of the EU (2007) Concept of territorial cohesion (alongside social and economic) in the Lisbon Treaty (2009) Green Paper on territorial cohesion (2008-2009) 10
Evolving accents Cross border co-operation (Benelux outlines) Competiveness of the European territory(ies) (Europe 2000+) Balanced and polycentric urban system and a fresh relationship between cities and the countryside (ESDP) Assurance of equal access to knowledge infrastructures Sustainable development, intelligent management and conservation of nature and cultural assets Territorial cohesion (Lisbon Treaty): Every region / territory has its own assets Shift in focus from supporting lagging regions to territorial assets (tangible & intangible) European budget does not reflect this new accent yet Is this spatial planning or regional / territorial development? ESDP: Triangle of objectives: a balanced and sustainable spatial development 11
Some questions on the sub-themes Main question: What type of spatial arrangements we need to cope with these challenges? What type of strategies have been developed up to now? Demography: Ageing of people Migration Third demographic revolution European planning 12
30000 25000 20000 Natural balance Internal migration balance Statistical adjustment External migration balance Overall migration balance Population growth 15000 10000 5000 0-5000 -10000-15000 -20000 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 13 Brussels: migration balance
Energy - Kyoto / EU goals: Flanders: Renewable energy 13% of total energy consumption by 2020 Up to now no defined shares per type of renewable energy source (solar, wind, biomass) Spatial properties, goals and carrying capacity of space have of course their influence on this distribution Potential locations of windmills (distance 250 m) What about supra national views? 14
Climate How to have a waterproof spatial planning Rising sea levels Heavy rainfall and flooding City climate Globalization Concentration or deconcentration (role of ICT and fast networks) Territorial, economic and social cohesion <> concentration Space of places vs space of flows The meaning of territories comes from their connections Role of the cities in a globalizing world: From geography of states / regions to geography of (world) cities Can a polycentric Europe compete with global cities (New York, Tokyo, )? European planning 15