Fuzzy Planning

Many of the key notions associated with spatial planning are essentially 'fuzzy' in their nature. For example, while almost everyone accepts 'sustainability' as an important goal of planning, the actions of the actors involved can render the achieved 'sustainability' minimal, or even counterproductive. Putting forward an innovative way of looking at planning problems and policies, this volume suggests actor-consulting is important in addressing the fuzzy nature of planning. A tool to address differences in understanding, actor-consulting is based on an analysis of actor motives, perceptions and contributions. By inviting all actors to express their desired, actual and potential contributions to achieving an agreed outcome to a local policy issue, decision-makers have a means to develop their goals in line with the roles, motivation, perception and behaviour of the various actors involved. Including contributions from Patsy Healy, Johan Woltjer, Don Miller and Karel Martens, the book presents a variety of case studies which demonstrate the use of the actor-consulting model in addressing planning issues.

Gert de Roo is Professor of Planning and Environment at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Dr Geoff Porter is a Researcher at the Sustainable Cities Research Institute, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.

Chapter 1 The End has no Merit..., Geoff Porter, Gert de Roo; partA Contextual Reflections; Chapter 2 Re-thinking Key Dimensions of Strategic Spatial Planning: Sustainability and Complexity, Patsy Healey; Chapter 3 Actors in a Fuzzy Governance Environment, Karel Martens; Chapter 4 From Government to Governance: Actor Part Icipation in Regional Planning, Henk Voogd, Johan Woltjer; Chapter 5 Indicators in the Context of Fuzzy Planning, Donald Miller; partB The Actor-Consulting Model; Chapter 6 Shifts in Planning Practice and Theory: From a Functional Towards a Communicative Rationale, Gert de Roo; Chapter 7 Understanding Fuzziness in Planning, Gert de Roo; Chapter 8 Actor Consulting: A Model to Handle Fuzziness in Planning, Gert de Roo; partC Case Studies; Chapter 9 Sustainability through Information in the County of Viborg, Geoff Porter, Finn Larsen, Lone Kørnøv, Per Christensen; Chapter 10 Policy Life Cycles: Cultural Heritage in the Dutch Wadden Sea Region, Rob de Boer; Chapter 11 Policy Appraisal and Sustainable Development in the North East, Geoff Porter; Chapter 12 Sustainable Urban Renewal: Opportunities for Drenthe Province, Dana Kamphorst; Chapter 13 Sustainable Urban Water Management: Opportunities for the Province of Drenthe, Rob de Boer; Chapter 14 An Evaluation of Sustainable Housing Policy in a Trans-Provincial Region of the Netherlands, Geoff Porter, Frans Osté;