Spatial Strategies for Economic Growth within “Net Zero Land Take”

Zaman, Jan (2024) Spatial Strategies for Economic Growth within “Net Zero Land Take”. KEEP ON PLANNING FOR THE REAL WORLD. Climate Change calls for Nature-based Solutions and Smart Technologies. Proceedings of REAL CORP 2024, 29th International Conference on Urban Development, Regional Planning and Information Society. pp. 535-541. ISSN 2521-3938

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Abstract

In 2013 the European Parliament adopted a target of no net land take by 2050 in the EU as part of the seventh Environment Action Program. In Belgium, the highly fragmented urban region of Flanders has expressed the ambition of no net land take by 2040. Slowly, regional planning instruments are put into place to achieve this goal. Most of the planning tools however still have a functionalist, growth oriented conceptual basis, e.g. the demand forecasts for economic zones that are used to promote green field development. We need to develop regional planning tools that lead towards land take reduction. In previous work, we developped a method for forecasting economic space demand in urban and peri-urban areas, within the context of net zero land take. The quantitative result provides insight in the part of economic space demand that could be accommodated in mixed use areas (economy and housing), and the demand that can only be met in functionally segregated economic zones. In this paper we will focus on a case where a local planning authority tries to combine spatial and economic policy strategies to promote economic growth without resorting to new greenfield development. The research starts with a short critical review of existing functionalist planning practices and their close link to real estate development. In a second part we have a close look on four potential spatial-economic strategies that might cater to our objective. The first strategy stays close to the existing planning practice, but goes more into detail and resorts to a form of micro-zoning. A second strategy focusses on the development of financial instruments and covenants. Transferable development rights are explored in the third strategy, where innovative land value capture can steer owners into developing space for economic activities. The last strategy is a strong local public development company, that buys land and building to (re)develop in line with the needs of the local economy and the ambitions of the spatial policy plan. An ex-ante evaluation of these strategies shows the potential of each approach, and highlights the organisational and financial consequences of each strategy. Local authorities can make an informed decision on what strategy and planning practice is fit for purpose in their specific situation. We will use the case of Lier (a small city between Antwerp and Brussels) to illustrate the positive and negative effects of each strategy, as the city has a strong ambition to remain an attractive location for industrial investment.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	space demand, zoning, net zero land take, economic development, new planning practises
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Depositing User:	REAL CORP Administrator
Date Deposited:	29 Apr 2024 09:10
Last Modified:	10 May 2024 09:11
URI:	http://repository.corp.at/id/eprint/1119

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