Improved planning for urban resilience and sustainability – tools, measures and recommendations: Deliverable 4.5 pf the TURAS Project

Urban regions face a wide spectrum of challenges. They are home to over half of the world population, but occupy a relatively small area, resulting in pressures related to a limited amount of natural resources such as space and water. Moreover, both the societal system and the natural system are in constant flux resulting in constantly changing boundary conditions. This relates to, inter alia, the climate, demographics and the economy. In order to adequately tackle todays and tomorrows challenges, urban areas need to anticipate and adapt in their planning policies for the city in a strategic way. This strategic urban planning concerns not only spatial planning, but relates to all sectors that are relevant in a city (e.g. energy, waste, water, transport). To support effective strategic urban planning, policy and decision makers need information on the changing state of their urban environment, on how certain measures/policies affects this, and how unwanted impacts (e.g. heat stress, flood risk, traffic jams) are reduced. Correspondingly, strategic urban planning requires the merge of environmental analyses and the policy process with all relevant stakeholders (which will be discussed in Chapter 2). This document reports on various tools and methods that have been developed to aid decision making within this joint analytical and policy framework. This research has been performed in various settings (cities) and related to various themes, namely energy (Aalborg), flooding and water management (Rotterdam and Ljubljana), green roofs (London), urban climate (Rotterdam) and transport (Ljubljana).

Experiences from not only the research performed, but also from explicitly reflecting on past activities shed some light on the governance associated with the policy process and implementation. These experiences teach us that people and timing play a crucial role in the actual execution. Timing relates to the time horizons of different actors (e.g. researchers, politicians, practitioners) and processes (e.g. urban development and maintenance of embankments), as well as seizing opportunities when possible. Co-creation of knowledge and plans is important here, which requires coordination and cooperation from the very beginning between different actors. Above all, strategic urban planning comes down to people, at all levels (policy analysis, policy making, decision making). People with an open mind who are dedicated, value an integrated approach, and can work in interdisciplinary settings with various stakeholders. Time to build trust and a dedicated coordinator to keep the process going are required for this. The best way to cooperate is to start acting. While learning by doing, capacity is built in terms of knowledge and the right mind-set of people involved who can then recognize future opportunities and keep awareness and support high. By investing and engaging in the knowledge base of its people, a city will become more resilient when facing new challenges in the future.

For more information on this Deliverable please email Hans de Moel at hans.de.moel@vu.nl

For additional information on the TURAS project see here, or email marcus.collier@tcd.ie.