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H. Nuissl and S. Siedentop
3. Given the variety of policy and planning instruments, it is worthwhile to evaluate
the effectiveness of these instruments in different contexts and to also scrutinise
the feasibility of possible combinations of different instruments. However, such
an evaluation of the instruments put in place to curb urban land use change is
particularly difficult to credibly carry out due to the countless potential interfering
variables. And it is even more difficult to undertake such an evaluation by way of
international comparison, because of the differences in administrative and legal
structures and cultures that exist in various countries. Against this background, it
remains a major research task to keep an eye on practical experiences regarding
the applicability of policy and planning strategies and instruments in different
contexts, as this will provide a basis for their adaption to the context in which they
are to be utilised. Without such efforts to allow for the particularity of different
contexts, it hardly seems possible to control, manage and steer the development
of fresh land to the most acceptable locations, to minimise urban land use change,
and to increase the sustainability of land use patterns.
4. Last but not least, more effective containment of urban sprawl requires social
learning and a long-term agenda-setting process. Experience to date with growth
management policies has made it clear that a “top-down” strategy operating
solely through laws and regulations at the national level cannot be successful.
What is needed, instead, is a cooperative political approach that includes a coordinated action programme at the state and local levels based on shared land policy
goals. The alliances (Bündnisse) that exist in various German Länder advocating
a more land-saving approach to urban development are an example of this. All
the relevant actors and stakeholders (policymakers, administration, chambers of
commerce, associations, researchers, NGOs) are represented in them. The aim
is to reach a consensus on land-saving targets and to find suitable implementation strategies and instruments. Even though such cooperative approaches have
not been consistently successful in the past, there is no doubt that sustainable
settlement and land development will not be possible without the mobilisation
of actors and their participation in a multi-level decision-making process.
Acknowledgments We would like to thank Stefan Fina and Mine Henki for their intellectual
support and stimulating discussions.
References
Abbott, C., & Margheim, J. (2008). Imagining Portland’s urban growth boundary: Planning
regulation as cultural icon. Journal of the American Planning Association, 74, 196–208.
Acioly, C., Jr., & Davidson, F. (1996). Density in urban development.Building Issues (8), 3–25.
Alberti, M. (1999). Urban patterns and environmental performance: What do we know? Journal of
Planning Education and Research, 19, 151–163.
Al-Hathloul, S., & Mughal, M. A. (2004). Urban growth management—The Saudi experience.
Habitat International, 28, 609–623.
H. Nuissl and S. Siedentop
3. Given the variety of policy and planning instruments, it is worthwhile to evaluate
the effectiveness of these instruments in different contexts and to also scrutinise
the feasibility of possible combinations of different instruments. However, such
an evaluation of the instruments put in place to curb urban land use change is
particularly difficult to credibly carry out due to the countless potential interfering
variables. And it is even more difficult to undertake such an evaluation by way of
international comparison, because of the differences in administrative and legal
structures and cultures that exist in various countries. Against this background, it
remains a major research task to keep an eye on practical experiences regarding
the applicability of policy and planning strategies and instruments in different
contexts, as this will provide a basis for their adaption to the context in which they
are to be utilised. Without such efforts to allow for the particularity of different
contexts, it hardly seems possible to control, manage and steer the development
of fresh land to the most acceptable locations, to minimise urban land use change,
and to increase the sustainability of land use patterns.
4. Last but not least, more effective containment of urban sprawl requires social
learning and a long-term agenda-setting process. Experience to date with growth
management policies has made it clear that a “top-down” strategy operating
solely through laws and regulations at the national level cannot be successful.
What is needed, instead, is a cooperative political approach that includes a coordinated action programme at the state and local levels based on shared land policy
goals. The alliances (Bündnisse) that exist in various German Länder advocating
a more land-saving approach to urban development are an example of this. All
the relevant actors and stakeholders (policymakers, administration, chambers of
commerce, associations, researchers, NGOs) are represented in them. The aim
is to reach a consensus on land-saving targets and to find suitable implementation strategies and instruments. Even though such cooperative approaches have
not been consistently successful in the past, there is no doubt that sustainable
settlement and land development will not be possible without the mobilisation
of actors and their participation in a multi-level decision-making process.
Acknowledgments We would like to thank Stefan Fina and Mine Henki for their intellectual
support and stimulating discussions.
References
Abbott, C., & Margheim, J. (2008). Imagining Portland’s urban growth boundary: Planning
regulation as cultural icon. Journal of the American Planning Association, 74, 196–208.
Acioly, C., Jr., & Davidson, F. (1996). Density in urban development.Building Issues (8), 3–25.
Alberti, M. (1999). Urban patterns and environmental performance: What do we know? Journal of
Planning Education and Research, 19, 151–163.
Al-Hathloul, S., & Mughal, M. A. (2004). Urban growth management—The Saudi experience.
Habitat International, 28, 609–623.