Strasbourg, 18 July 2007

14 CEMAT (2006) 6 -

EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS

RESPONSIBLE FOR SPATIAL/REGIONAL PLANNING (CEMAT)
___________________________

CONFRENCE EUROPENNE DES MINISTRES

RESPONSABLES DE LAMENAGEMENT DU TERRITOIRE (CEMAT)

Lisbon, Lisbonne (Portugal), 26-27 October/bre 2006

CEMAT GLOSSARY OF KEY EXPRESSIONS USED IN SPATIAL

DEVELOPMENT POLICIES IN EUROPE
Document presented at the 14th Session of the European Conference of Ministers responsible for
Spatial/regional Planning, Lisbon (Portugal), 26-27 October 2006

Document by the Secretariat General prepared by the Spatial Planning and Landscape Division
Document du Secrtariat Gnral prpar par la Division de l'amnagement du territoire et du paysage
Directorate of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage / Direction de la Culture et du Patrimoine culturel et naturel
This document will not be distributed at the meeting. Please bring this copy.
Ce document ne sera plus distribu en runion. Prire de vous munir de cet exemplaire.

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
The Council of Europe CEMAT Glossary of key expressions used in spatial development policies in Europe
was part of the Working Programme of the Committee of Senior Officials and presented at the 14th
Session of the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Spatial/Regional Planning, Lisbon
(Portugal), 26-27 October 2006 on Networks for sustainable spatial development of the European
continent: Bridges over Europe. It is addressed to officials, professionals and representatives of the civil
society involved in territorial development policies and related activities. The Glossary was established
by the Committee of Senior Officials of the CEMAT, with the assistance of Mr Jacques ROBERT, Expert
of the Council of Europe.

Document by the Secretariat General prepared by the Spatial Planning and Landscape Division of the
Council of Europe CEMAT Secretariat: Maguelonne DEJEANT-PONS
Directorate of Culture and Cultural and Natural Heritage
http://www.coe.int/CEMAT
http://www.coe.int/CEMAT/fr
http://www.coe.int/EuropeanLandscapeConvention
http://www.coe.int/Conventioneuropennedupaysage
http://www.coe.int/naturopa
http://www.coe.int/naturopa/fr
2

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
Preface
Within the framework of the preparation of the 14th session of CEMAT, on the general theme Networks
for sustainable spatial development of the European Continent: Bridges over Europe, the Work
Programme 2004-2007 of the Committee of Senior Officials integrated the theme Exchange of
information, know-how and experience having the general purpose of encouraging collective learning
experiences, a culture of communication and the practice of transnational cooperation within Europe and
with neighbouring States as well as to increase ability to implement the various thematic aspects of the
CEMAT Guiding Principles For Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent.
Considering that there was a need to clarify a number of specific expressions and concepts frequently
used in most European States in the context of spatial development policies, the Committee of Senior
Officials of CEMAT decided that, as part of the Work Programme, the preparation of a glossary of
concepts, categories and terms used in areas related to spatial development would both answer an existing
need for clarification of those concepts and terms and be a good contribution to help build bridges of
understanding and communication between the professionals of the member States.
The goal of the glossary is to match current professional and policy linguistic and cultural diversity in the
member States with the need for communication and comparability of situations and results, considering a
number of specific expressions and concepts frequently used in most European States, in the context of
spatial development policies.
The CEMAT Glossary of key expressions used in spatial development policies in Europe was prepared
by the Committee of Senior Officials with the assistance of Mr Jacques Robert, Expert of the Council of
Europe. A special word of praise is due to their effort.
Currently including 68 concepts and expressions ranging from Accessibility to Urban structure /
Settlement structure, the glossary provides a definition of expressions and concepts frequently used in
most European States as well as explanations about their use and recent evolution, as some of the
expressions are traditional professional expressions, while others were recently introduced into the
professional vocabulary, especially through the elaboration and publication of the CEMAT Guiding
Principles or the EU European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP).
The Committee of Senior Officials wishes this CEMAT Glossary to be considered as the first phase of an
open and dynamic project to be permanently up-dated, by adding either more expressions or new
concepts. As well, because it resulted from the contributions of its members that also agreed on its
content, the Committee feels it should be translated and adapted to the diverse national languages of the
47 member States of the Council of Europe, thus enlarging its usefulness as a common basis of
understanding and cooperation in spatial development.
Maria Jos FESTAS
Chair of the Committee of Senior Officials
of the 14th Session of the European Conference of Ministers responsible
for Spatial/Regional Planning of the Council of Europe (CEMAT/CoE)

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
Presentation
In the context of spatial development policies, a number of specific expressions and concepts are
frequently used in most European States. Some of them are traditional professional expressions, while
others were recently introduced into the professional vocabulary, especially through the elaboration and
publication of the Recommendation Rec. (2002) 1 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of
Europe on the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent
(GPSSDEC-CEMAT) or the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP)1. The objective of the
present Glossary is to provide a definition of such expressions, as well as some explanations about their
use and recent evolution.
The Glossary is addressed to a wide range of officials, professionals and representatives of the civil
society involved in territorial development policies and related activities at the various levels. It is aimed
at clarifying the content of widely used concepts and expressions in this field as well as the distinctions
between them.
It its present form, the Glossary cannot be considered as a final product. Further concepts and
expressions can be added in future, according to specific demands and to the evolution of spatial
development activities.
Each concept or expression presented in the Glossary contains a definition, generally followed by
comments in italic providing further information on the origin, the context, the evolution or the policy
implications of the concept. A large number of concepts or expressions are related to other concepts and
expressions, either by a similarity of meaning or by policy considerations. Such links of affinity are also
indicated.
A large number of documents2, which cannot all be mentioned, were consulted for the elaboration of the
Glossary providing either definitions or information about the meaning of the expressions concerned. In a
number of cases, various expressions are very close to each other as far as their signification is concerned.
They have been grouped into a single category and the text illustrates the slight differences existing
between them.
The expressions selected are presented in the Glossary in alphabetical order.
List of concepts and expressions contained in the glossary
Accessibility
Administrative level
Brownfield land
Business park
Comprehensive spatial development approach
Connectivity
Conurbation
Cross-border, transnational, interregional co-operation
Cultural routes
Derelict area
Disadvantaged regions
Endogenous development
Environmental planning
Environmental impact assessment
1

Adopted in 1999.
Among them various CEMAT/Council of Europe documents, including the Guiding Principles (Recommendation Rec. (2002) 1 of the
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development), the Ljubljana Declaration on
The territorial dimension of sustainable development (13th CEMAT/CoE, 2003) and the Lisbon Declaration on Networks for sustainable
spatial development of the European Continent: Bridges over Europe (14th CEMAT/CoE, 2006) (http://www.coe.int/CEMAT), as well as the
ESDP. The free encyclopaedia Wikipedia has also been a valuable support for the definition and explanation of a number of concepts and
expressions.
2

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
Eurocorridor
Functional urban area
Gateway cities
Governmental level
Integrated coastal management
Integrated planning
Land management
Landscape
Landscape planning
Landscape policies
Land-use planning, zoning
Metropolitan region / Metropolitan area
Natural risk / Natural hazard / Natural disaster
Participatory planning
Partnership /cooperation
Peripheral regions
Peri-urban areas
Physical planning
Polycentric spatial structure / Polycentric spatial development
Public-private partnership
Public services
Region
Regional development / Regional planning
River basin management
Rural area / Countryside
Rural development
Rural development pole
Spatial development, Spatial development policy
Spatial development projects
Spatial planning
Strategic environmental impact assessment
Suburbanisation
Sustainable spatial development
Sustainability assessment
Technological risk / Technological hazard
Technopole / Technology centre / Technology park / Science park
Territorial cohesion
Territorial cooperation
Territorial development
Territorial governance
Territorial potential
Territorial impact assessment
Town and country planning
Urban areas
Urbanisation
Urban development
Urban design
Urban ecosystem
Urban management
Urban planning
Urban renewal / Urban regeneration / Urban revitalisation / Urban rehabilitation / Urban restoration
Urban-rural partnerships
Urban sprawl
Urban structure / Settlement structure

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
GLOSSARY

Accessibility
Accessibility refers to the ease of reaching destinations3. In addition to physical accessibility through
transport infrastructure, connectivity through advanced telecommunication systems contributes to
improving the intangible accessibility of areas.
Accessibility depends upon the extension and quality of transport infrastructure and services. People
living in places that are highly accessible can reach many destinations quickly, while people in
inaccessible places can reach fewer places in the same amount of time. The progress of
telecommunication systems has created a new form of intangible accessibility which plays a significant
part in territorial development potentialities. The level of accessibility is a very important factor for
territorial development, especially in the present context of globalisation.
See also Connectivity
Administrative level
Administrative levels correspond to the territorial/administrative units where public administrations are
established, independently from the existence or not of elected bodies at the corresponding levels.
In the various European States, three or for administrative levels generally exist. Rather frequently, state
and decentralised (regional, municipal) administrations co-exist at certain levels. There, where various
administrative levels depend upon a single governmental level (elected body), they are generally
organised in a hierarchical way.
See also Governmental level.
Brownfield land
Brownfield land is land previously used for industrial purposes or certain commercial uses and that may
be contaminated by low concentrations of hazardous waste or pollution and has the potential to be re-used
once it is cleaned up4. Sometimes, the concept of brownfield land is also used for designating areas which
were previously developed and have become obsolete, but are non necessarily contaminated.
Generally, brownfields sites exist in a towns industrial section, on land containing abandoned factories
or commercial buildings, or other previously polluting operations. Small brownfields may also be found
in many older residential neighbourhoods with dry cleaning establishments, gas stations, etc. While many
contaminated brownfields were unused for decades, emphasis has recently been put on their decontamination and rehabilitation for other uses as demand for developable land is permanently growing.
See also Derelict area.
Business park
A business park or business estate is an area of land in which many office and commercial buildings are
grouped together5. Business parks are groupings of tertiary activities and differ from industrial parks
(manufacturing activities) or technology parks (research and technological development activities).
Business parks are generally located in suburban areas at the most accessible points of the metropolitan
road network.
3

Cf. Free Encyclopedia Wikipedia.

Idem.
5
Idem.
4

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
Comprehensive spatial development approach
A comprehensive spatial development approach is an approach of spatial development policy which
considers all factors likely to influence the spatial development of a specific territory whatever their
nature may be (natural factors such as climate change or natural hazards, human activities such as those
related to private investments or social/cultural behaviours, public policies in various fields, etc.). It pays
particular attention to the coherence of public (sectoral) policies which have clear impacts on the territory
so as to ensure a high degree of territorial cohesion and to avoid shortcomings such as insufficient
synergies, sub-optimal effects of resource allocation and the production of territorial impacts
counteracting the desired spatial evolution.
See also Spatial development, Sustainable spatial development.
Connectivity
The connectivity of a specific urban settlement or location corresponds to the number, nature and capacity
of transport and communication/telecommunication links with other urban settlements and with the major
networks.
The level of connectivity does not depend only upon the proximity of major transport and communication
networks, but also and primarily upon the proximity to the points of access to these networks (railway
stations, entrance to motorways). The concept of connectivity applies to both transport and
telecommunication networks.
See also Eurocorridor, Accessibility.
Conurbation
A conurbation is an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities which have physically
merged through population growth and expansion. It is a polycentric form of agglomeration6.
Physical proximity and continuity of built-up areas are a prerequisite for the definition of a conurbation,
which does not exclude that interstitial open spaces may also exist. Conurbations generally developed
during the industrial revolution when settlements were built up in areas with significant raw materials
(especially mines) or along coastal strips (between the shore line and the mountains in the hinterland).
Cross-border, transnational, interregional co-operation
Territorial cooperation between national, regional and local authorities is an important element of
European integration. It aims at abolishing the negative impacts of national borders on territorial
development. According to the territorial scale, a distinction is made between:

Cross-border cooperation which takes place on relatively short distances between areas on both
sides of national borders. Cross-border cooperation encompasses all types of activities belonging to
normal activities of local and regional communities, such as economic development, spatial planning,
tourism and recreation, training, transport, environmental protection, etc. Cross-border cooperation
concerns also areas such as the Euroregions and, in a number of cases, areas where more than two
countries are converging (Saar-Lor-Lux region, Upper Rhine Triangle for instance).

Transnational cooperation is a more recent type of territorial cooperation stretching across

national borders over large areas (Atlantic Arc, Baltic Sea Region, Western Mediterranean Regions, etc.).
Cooperation is more focussed on specific strategic issues, such as networks of metropolitan areas,
promotion of the maritime economy of coastal regions, general improvement of accessibility, large-scale
measures related to the enhancement of the natural and cultural heritage, etc.

Idem.

14 CEMAT (2006) 6

Interregional cooperation is of thematic nature and takes place between regions of different
States, sometimes far away from each other, generally without territorial continuity. Interregional
cooperation may comprise transfers of know-how and experience, the joint improvement of techniques
and methodologies contributing to the development of regions or enterprises, the promotion of longdistance tourism, etc. Interregional cooperation may also take place between regions of the same State,
with or without territorial continuity.
Cultural routes
Cultural routes are itineraries which gather significant elements of heritage and traditions witnessing and
illustrating specific periods and events of European history. Cultural routes involve also intangible and
spatial dynamics not possessed by a cultural landscape, which is more static and restricted in nature.
The cultural routes programme of the Council of Europe is an instrument for reading the European
values that emerge from the complexity of the cultures and societies constituting Europe. It is based on
themes representative for European values, which, moreover, are common to several countries of Europe.
These themes are handled by multidisciplinary networks established in several Member States. They
appear in a whole series of projects of multilateral co-operation. Examples of cultural routes are: the
Pilgrim Pathways, the Monastic Influence Routes, the Celts Routes, Hanseatic sites, routes and
monuments, fortified military architectures in Europe, etc. Cultural routes are important for the
development of cultural tourism7.
Derelict area
Derelict areas are (generally urban) areas which have suffered a significant downturn, with declining or
abandoned industries, closed businesses and houses, vacant storefronts, a degraded environment and
virtually empty streets at night. Some derelict areas are also contaminated and can be considered as
brownfields sites. Derelict areas are a major cause of environmental stress in urban areas.
See also Brownfield land.
Disadvantaged regions
Disadvantaged (or disfavoured) regions are regions with a relatively low level of economic development
which may result from their geographical location, especially from remote and peripheral situations, from
natural and climate conditions (regions in polar areas or regions subject to drought, mountainous regions),
from the characteristics of their population (sparsely populated regions with extremely low population
density, regions subject to out-migration), from accessibility constraints (insular regions, regions badly
connected to centres through efficient transport infrastructures). Regions characterised by obsolete
economic structures (old industrial regions subject to economic reconversion) are also often considered
disadvantaged regions.
Regional development policies address in priority disadvantaged regions and support them through
measures of infrastructure development, technological development, training and professional
qualification and promotion of economic activities.
Endogenous development
Endogenous development is a specific form of economic development which relies primarily on the
internal resources of a specific territory. These comprise natural resources and raw materials, skills,
know-how and innovation capacity, specific local productions (agriculture, forestry, handicraft, local
manufacturing), factors of attractiveness for the residential and tourist economy (climate conditions,
natural and cultural heritage, attractive landscapes and other amenities).

Cf. Cultural Routes Programme of the Council of Europe.

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
Endogenous development is opposed to (or complements) exogenous development which is based on
investments made by foreign enterprises (from another State or region).
Environmental planning
Environmental planning is a relatively new discipline aiming at merging the practice of urban/regional
planning with the concerns of environmentalism8. Environmental planning concerns both
urban/metropolitan and rural/natural areas. Environmental planning considers a full range of
environmental regulations from the European to the local level.
The most common expression of environmental planning is the realisation of rigorous environmental
impact assessments of projects and programmes concerning land-use, economic development,
transportation, housing development, air, noise, water, wetlands, endangered species and habitats,
ecosystems, flood zones, coastal zones, visual aspects, etc.
Environmental impact assessment
An environmental assessment is an analysis of the likely impacts that a project may have on ecosystems,
human health and on changes to natures services. The main impacts to be analysed are: soil
contamination impacts, air pollution impacts, noise health effects, ecology impacts including endangered
species assessment, geological hazards assessment and water pollution impacts.
The EU Directive on environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was introduced in 1985 and amended in
1997 and 2003. The EIA procedure ensures that environmental consequences of projects are identified
and assessed before authorisation is given. The public can give its opinion and all results are taken into
account in the authorisation procedure of the project. The public is informed of the decision afterwards.
See also Strategic Environmental Assessment.
Eurocorridor (or Pan-European corridor)
A Eurocorridor is a category of space of linear nature connecting large agglomerations over various
national borders. They are areas of rapid and large-scale spatial dynamics within a Europe of vanishing
national borders. Four interrelated dimensions can be distinguished in Eurocorridors: infrastructure and
transport (mainly the Trans-European Networks), urbanisation, economic development and environmental
sustainability.
The rapid dynamism of Eurocorridor zones is increasingly complex in both spatial and political sense.
For example, political conflicts may arise from tensions between the rapid construction of new physical
infrastructure and business sites on the one hand and initially present nature, landscape and rural
scenery on the other. This illustrates the need for advanced spatial planning and policy-making of
Eurocorridor development.
Functional urban area
A functional urban area characterises the area of influence of a city. It is generally delineated on the basis
of statistics (for instance commuter flows).
Most European States have definitions of Functional Urban Areas or similar concepts, such as travel towork-areas, commuting catchment areas, commuting zones or functional urban regions. In the context of
the ESPON I Programme, an attempt has been made to produce an identification and delineation of
functional urban areas (FUA) at European level, using a harmonised statistical definition9.

Cf. Free Encyclopedia Wikipedia.

Cf. ESPON Study 1.1.1. The role, specific situation and potentials of urban areas as nodes in a polycentric development coordinated by
Nordregio. Final report. 2004.
9

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
Gateway cities
Gateway cities are key entry points to Europe, typically based on major ports and/or airports, but also
trade fair and exhibition cities and cultural centres likely to be the first point of call of international
tourists.
The removal of national boundaries within the European Union and the EU enlargements have created
new possibilities. Cities and metropolitan regions that were once on national peripheries or mainly
connected to non-EU countries can grow a new role as gateway cities in polycentric networks. To
achieve this potential they must be connected to Trans-European Networks. Global gateways are major
urban conglomerations, often split across more than a single city, that have the potential to offer goods
and services at an international scale. They rely on the combination of scale, excellent communications
(focused around the conjunction of international air and rail terminals), high-quality ICT networks that
create the context for a knowledge-rich environment, and high quality R&D facilities (usually in the
form of universities and research centres) which help to create the potential for cutting-edge research
and the production of a highly skilled labour force. Given such assets, global gateways provide the means
of attracting international inward investment and significant international export of goods and services.
Governmental level
Governmental levels correspond to territorial/administrative units where an elected assembly, together
with its own administration, is established.
In decentralised countries, three or four governmental levels generally exist, while in more centralised
countries, no more than two levels (national and local) can be found.
See also Administrative level, Territorial governance.
Integrated coastal management
An integrated, participative territorial approach is required to ensure that the management of Europes
coastal zones is environmentally and economically sustainable, as well as socially equitable and cohesive.
It aims at resolving the conflicting demands of society for products and services, taking into account both
current and future interests. Major objectives are to:

strengthen sectoral management by improving training, legislation and staffing;

preserve the biological diversity of coastal ecosystems by preventing habitat destruction,
pollution and over-exploitation; and
promote the rational development and sustainable use of coastal resources.

Coastal zones are of strategic importance. They are home to a large percentage of European citizens, a
major source of food and raw materials, a vital link for transport and trade, the location of some of the
most valuable habitats, and the favoured destination for leisure time. Yet coastal zones are facing serious
problems of habitat destruction, water contamination, coastal erosion and resource depletion. This
depletion of the limited resources of the coastal zone (including the limited physical space) is leading to
increasingly frequent conflict between uses, such as between aquaculture and tourism. Coastal zones also
suffer from serious socio-economic and cultural problems, such as weakening of the social fabric,
marginalization, unemployment and destruction of property by erosion. At EU level, a programme of
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is being implemented.
See also Integrated planning.
Integrated planning
Integrated planning (as opposed to sectoral planning) is a process involving the drawing together of level
and sector specific planning efforts which permits strategic decision-making and provides a synoptic view
of resources and commitments. Integrated planning acts as a focal point for institutional initiatives and
10

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
resource allocation. In the context of integrated (or comprehensive) planning, economic, social,
ecological and cultural factors are jointly used and combined to guide land- and facility-use decisions
towards sustainable territorial development.
Land management
Land management can be defined as the process of managing the use and development of land resources
in a sustainable way10.
As land resources are used for a variety of purposes which interact and may compete with one another,
all land uses should be planned and managed in an integrated manner. Land management is closely
related to land-use planning and physical planning. Land management may also comprise the activity of
land assembly (purchase of land by public authorities to facilitate future land uses such as the protection
of natural areas or the development of land for specific purposes, such as housing or infrastructure).
Landscape
According to the European Landscape convention, landscape means an area, as perceived by people,
whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors11.
The Guiding Principles12 indicate that Europe is composed of a plurality of landscapes. They are a
significant part of European heritage and a witness of the past and present relationships between man
and his natural and built environments. Developments in production techniques in agriculture, forestry
and industry and changes in town planning, transport, other types of infrastructure, tourism and leisure
time behaviour are accelerating the transformation of European landscapes and can also have a negative
impact on their quality and use. This not only concerns valuable natural landscapes, but also applies
generally to all types of cultural landscapes, especially those that are an essential component of the
urban environment.
Landscape planning
Landscape planning is an activity involving both public and private professionals, aiming at the creation,
conservation, enhancement and restoration of landscapes at various scales, from greenways and public
parks to large areas, such as forests, large wilderness areas and reclamation of degraded landscapes such
as mines or landfills.
Landscape planning encompasses a variety of skills, such as landscape architecture and design, nature
conservation, knowledge of plants, ecosystems, soil science, hydrology, cultural landscapes, etc. The
provisions of the European Landscape Convention are important guidelines for the content and
procedures of landscape planning.
See also Landscape, Landscape policies.
Landscape policies
According to the European Landscape Convention, landscape policy means an expression by the
competent public authorities of general principles, strategies and guidelines that permit the taking of
specific measures aims at the protection, management and planning of landscapes.
Under this general heading, various types of landscape policies can be identified:

the European Landscape convention indicates that:

10

Cf. Free Encyclopedia Wikipedia.

Cf. the European Landscape Convention has entered into force in 2004. Council of Europe.
12
Guiding Principles for the Sustainable Spatial Development of the European continent. CEMAT. 2000.
11

11

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
- Landscape protection means actions to conserve and maintain the significant or characteristic
features of a landscape, justified by its heritage value derived from its natural configuration and/or
from human activity;
- landscape management means action, from a perspective of sustainable development, to ensure
the regular upkeep of a landscape, so as to guide and harmonise changes which are brought about
by social, economic and environmental processes;
- landscape planning means strong forward-looking action to enhance, restore or create
landscapes.

the Guiding Principles indicate that Spatial development policy can contribute to protecting,
managing and enhancing landscapes by adopting appropriate measures, in particular by organising
better interactions between various sectoral policies with regard to their territorial impacts. Various
types of measures are likely to contribute to this aim, such as: the integration of landscape development
into spatial planning as well as into sectoral policies, the examination and general assessment of
landscapes, the implementation of integrated policies, the consideration of landscape development and
protection in international programmes, in cross-border and transnational cooperation, the
strengthening of awareness of people, private organisations and territorial authorities of the value of
landscapes, the stronger integration of landscape development into training programmes.
Land-use planning, zoning
Land-use planning is a branch of public policy which encompasses various disciplines seeking to order
and regulate the use of land in an efficient way13. It means the scientific, aesthetic and orderly disposition
of land, resources, facilities and services with a view to securing the physical, economic, social and
environmental efficiency, health and well-being of urban and rural communities.
Zoning is an important component of land-use planning. It commonly includes regulation of the kinds of
activities which will be acceptable on particular lots (such as open spaces, residential, agricultural,
commercial or industrial), the densities at which those activities can be performed, the amount of space
structures may occupy, etc.
Metropolitan region / Metropolitan area
A metropolitan area is a settlement system consisting of a large city (together with its suburbs) and its
adjacent zones of influence, which may comprise various urban centres of different sizes14. These
adjacent zones are generally the so-called commuter belt. Interstitial open spaces also form part of the
metropolitan area.
A metropolitan region is generally considered as a region (in the administrative or geographical sense)
dominated by an important metropolitan area. In spatial terms, its extension is therefore wider than that of
the metropolitan area, but in some interpretations the two concepts of metropolitan area and metropolitan
region have similar meanings.
Natural risk / Natural hazard / Natural disaster
Numerous natural events represent a risk for the living, built and natural environment as they threaten
human and animal life and may cause serious damages to settlements. For that reason, human settlements
have to be protected, as far as possible, against natural risks through adapted prevention measures.

13
14

Cf. Free Encyclopedia Wikipedia.

Idem.

12

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
According to their intensity, impacts and damages, these natural events (or hazards) may be considered as
natural disasters. A natural disaster is therefore the consequence of the combination of a natural hazard
and human activities15.
Main natural hazards are: avalanches, drought, earthquakes, floods, land slides, volcanic eruptions,
tsunamis, tornados, cyclones, wildfires, etc.
Recent decades witnessed a significant increase in the occurrence, severity and intensity of natural
disasters. There is considerable scope for the reduction of risk through the application of disaster
prevention and mitigation efforts based, for instance, on modern forecasting technology in terms of the
development of early warning systems as well as improved land-use and settlement planning and safer
building practices.
Participatory planning
Participatory planning is a specific form of planning activities practiced by public authorities mainly at
local level which makes possible for the citizens to play a part in the planning process.
The most common form of participatory planning is consultation of the population on projects before
their formal approval. More substantial and creative forms of public participation are also in use, such
as workshops, public debates, etc. Internet plays an ever growing part in participatory planning, either
for the dissemination of information on planning projects or in the context of interactive communication
systems.
Partnership /cooperation
The governance of territorial development policies has significantly changed over the past decades in
order to face more efficiently the new challenges. While, in the past, territorial governance was mainly of
hierarchical nature, often in the context of top-down relations, a number of factors have led to the
adoption of more flexible approaches in which cooperation and partnerships play a more important part,
especially in the following fields:

vertical and horizontal relationships in public administrations responsible for both territorial
planning and sectoral policies with territorial impacts, partly substituted to authoritarian relationships and
enabling the progressive coherence of public policies with the aim of producing added value for territorial
cohesion and sustainability;

relationships between public administrations and bodies representing the civil society with the
aim to strengthen the adhesion of civil society to spatial planning objectives, to harmonise public policies
with private decisions, in particular in the field of investments, and to smooth potential conflicts of
interest;

relationships between urban and rural areas with the aim to strengthen the development of rural
areas through the services provided by urban entities, to alleviate the pressure that metropolitan areas
exert on surrounding rural areas and to provide the various functions of urban-rural relations with a
sustainable character;

cross-border and transnational relationships aiming at harmonising territorial development

policies across national borders.
Peripheral regions
Peripheral regions are areas located far away from the main urban and economic centres, either within a
State or on the European continent. Peripheral regions generally have lower economic potential and

15

Idem.

13

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
accessibility than the more central ones. Regional development policies pay a specific attention to
peripheral regions.
Peri-urban areas
Peri-urban areas are areas that are in some form of transition from strictly rural to urban. These areas
often form the immediate urban-rural interface and may eventually evolve into being fully urban. Periurban areas are places where people are key components: they are lived-in environments.
The majority of peri-urban areas are on the fringe of established urban areas, but they may also be
clusters of residential development within rural landscapes. Peri-urban areas are most frequently an
output of the process of suburbanisation or urban sprawl.
See also Suburbanisation.
Physical planning
Physical planning is strongly related to land-use planning, urban design, transport planning, landscape
planning, building plans, etc. It addresses activities which immediately affect and programme the physical
structure and environment of cities and neighbourhoods (as opposed to economic planning or social
planning activities).
Polycentric spatial structure / Polycentric spatial development
A polycentric spatial structure refers to the morphology of the settlement system. It assumes that a
plurality of urban agglomerations of similar size exist at the various levels of the urban hierarchy, as
opposed to situations where a single large urban centre dominates each level and even eliminates the
presence of intermediary levels. The principle of polycentric spatial structure and development can be
applied at the various geographical scales, from the European to the regional one.
The concept of polycentric spatial development was first introduced into the European debate on spatial
development policies by the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) and was taken over into
the Guiding Principles. Polycentricity of settlement systems is considered to favour sustainable territorial
development as well as the reduction of territorial imbalances.
An important aspect of polycentricity is that it is valid at different scales:

applied at European scale, it should enable the emergence of alternative global economic
integration zones likely to counteract the polarisation effects of the so-called pentagon London-ParisMilan-Munich-Hamburg;

at intermediate scale (for instance at national scale or in transnational areas), polycentricity

should lead to a balanced settlement system with growth benefiting to several metropolitan areas of
various size and not only to the national capital cities;

at regional level, polycentricity has to ensure that growth and development benefits also to
medium-sized and smaller towns to maintain and increase vitality in the more rural parts of the region.
CEMAT Resolution N1 (2006) on Polycentric development: promoting competitiveness, enhancing
cohesion indicates that polycentricity is an umbrella theme that encompass different conceptual debates.
In order to favour polycentric development, spatial development policies should:
-

Promote functional complementarity between government levels;

Take into consideration the existence of overlapping polycentric networks;
Favour an integrative cross-sectorial multi-scale policy;
Strengthen the institutional capacity-building;
14

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
-

Take into consideration the existence of soft instruments that may comprise more effective use of
available infrastructural organisational and human resources;
Target growth potentials, understanding cities as economic drivers, essential to endogenous
regional development;
Promote adapted administrative and organisational structures with competence to support
equitable sharing and redistribution of diverse regional resources as well as to absorb the
burdens and negative impacts of spatial decisions that often traverse local administrative
borders.

Public-private partnership
A public-private partnership is a formal agreement (generally a contract) by which a public body
(government, regional or local authority) and one or more private entity (ies) decide to cooperate for
building assets or delivering services.
The choice of private entities is generally made on the basis of competition. The role of the public entity is
to ensure that the public interests are respected in the operation. For this purpose, the contract stipulates
precisely the tasks to be fulfilled by the private entities, in terms of services to be delivered, of capital to
be invested, of security norms to be respected, etc. Private entities generally participate in bringing
equity and / or in operating services. There are many different forms of public-private partnerships (for
instance concessions, BOT, etc.). In the context of the neo-liberal economic systems which prevailed
during the past decades, numerous public-private partnerships were created throughout Europe.
Public services
Public services is a generic term to designate services provided (directly or indirectly) by public
authorities to citizens. Public services are delivered in a variety of fields, such as public transport, mail
distribution and collection, health care, education, telecommunications, etc.16
The principles upon which public services are based are those of equality (equal access to everybody)
and reasonable conditions of access (most public services are subsidized because they are not profitable).
In the context of the neo-liberal which has developed throughout Europe over the past decades, numerous
public services were privatised and have been partly or totally transformed into private services, with
increasing prices and less equal conditions of access on the territory. A sustained debate has resulted
from this evolution. In the EU terminology, public services are called services of general interest.
Region
The concept of region is a multi-dimensional one which may refer to:

a geographical area which has a strong natural identity and homogeneity (for instance mountain
or coastal region);

a territory with a significant economic identity or homogeneity (for instance a space which is
polarised around a metropolitan area, an area characterises by specific activities such as manufacturing
industries);

a political-administrative unit governed by an elected regional assembly or administered by

representatives of the national administration;

16

a territory with a particular cultural identity and history (regional language and culture, etc.).

Idem.

15

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
Regional development / Regional planning
Regional development is considered as both the increase of wealth in a region and the activities leading to
that increase. Regional development has a strong economic orientation, although it may also include
social and cultural considerations.
Regional planning is a branch of land-use planning dealing with the organisation of infrastructure,
settlement growth and non-built areas at the scale of a region17. Regional planning generally contributes
to regional development, but may also fulfil additional objectives, such as sustainability in the
environmental sense. Regional planning is generally understood as the spatial planning activities at
regional scale.
River basin management
River basin management refers to the management of the water resources in a river basin, comprising the
main river, all its tributaries as well as ground water. Water management activities include the prevention
of flooding, the control of activities which influence the level and quality of water resources (water
extraction, punctual and diffuse pollution) and all measures necessary to maintain the ecological balance
related to the hydrologic system of the basin.
Rural area / Countryside
Rural areas are sparsely settled areas without significant large city or town. The countryside refers to
certain forms of landscapes and land uses where agriculture and natural areas play an important part.
Rural areas are more and more diverse, as far as their economic base is concerned. While agriculture
still plays an important part in numerous rural areas, other sources of income have developed such as
rural tourism, small-scale manufacturing activities, residential economy (location of retirees), production
of renewable energy, etc. Many rural areas are multifunctional and a number of them are under the
influence of metropolitan areas and large cities as a result of ever improved transport and
communication facilities
See also rural development and rural development pole.
Rural development
Rural development is a specific aspect of territorial development. It originates in the fact that the
industrial and urban society which has been prevailing in Europe for more than one century has left out
from growth and development trends numerous rural areas, in particular the most remote and peripheral
ones. Rural development has therefore become a priority of spatial development policies in most
European States.
In more recent years, a strong diversification of rural areas has however taken place in Europe, with
some rural regions benefiting largely from the proximity of large agglomerations, others from tourism
and/or from the settlement of retirees, while a number of other rural areas are still facing constraints of
remoteness and marginalisation leading to out-migration of the population. It results from this that the
tasks related to rural development are rather diversified and largely depend upon the context and
situation of the rural areas considered. They comprise measures such as the improvement of accessibility,
of living conditions, of the environment, the conservation of cultural landscapes and of the cultural and
natural heritage, the promotion of soft tourism, the encouragement of small and medium-sized towns as
well as large villages to act as service suppliers for their rural hinterlands, the promotion of high-quality
regional agricultural, forestry and craft products while adopting environmentally-friendly production
practices.

17

Idem.

16

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
Rural development pole
A rural development pole is an inhabited, significantly rural area where the social, economic and
territorial evolutions are led within the framework of an integrated and prospective development plan. A
rural pole is not an agglomeration, but a rural territory as a whole, which may include one or more small
towns.
The territorial development plan determines the objectives of results in short, medium and long terms. It
specifies the guidelines for development, the human and material means to achieve the results targeted.
The civil society, public and private actors must be partner for its development and its assessment18.
Spatial development, Spatial development policy
Spatial development refers to the evolution of territories in all their dimensions (economic, social,
environmental, physical).
The observation of spatial development (for instance in the context of the ESPON programme), the
realisation of analyses of spatial development trends and of foresight studies on spatial development are
activities necessary for the preparation of spatial development policies.
Spatial development policy is a rather recent concept originating from the 1990s (when the ESDP and
the Guiding Principles were adopted) which means a policy promoting the development of space in
accordance with general principles. Various public policies (sectoral and non-sectoral) should converge
for the achievement of these general principles described in the Guiding Principles and in the ESDP.
See also: Territorial development, Sustainable spatial development.
Spatial development projects
Spatial development projects are projects generated or controlled by public bodies which contribute
positively to territorial development at different scales. Spatial development projects may comprise
infrastructure works, the economic promotion and development of specific areas, urban rehabilitation
measures, the restoration of damaged ecosystems, etc.
Generally, spatial development projects are elements of more comprehensive spatial development
strategies. While some spatial development projects are of top-down nature and involve mainly public
authorities, others are of more bottom-up nature and may largely involve the civil society as well as
private interests (such as public-private partnerships).
Spatial planning
Spatial planning refers to the methods used by the public sector to influence the distribution of people and
activities in spaces at various scales19 as well as the location of the various infrastructures, recreation and
nature areas.
Spatial planning activities are carried out at different administrative or governmental levels (local,
regional, national), while activities of cooperation in this field are also implemented in cross-border,
transnational and European contexts.
Strategic environmental impact assessment
The Strategic Impact Assessment does not refer to the likely impacts of individual projects (as in the case
of the EIA), but to the likely environmental impacts of certain plans and programmes.

18
19

Definition proposed by the international association Rurality-Environment-Development (RED).

Cf. Free Encyclopedia Wikipedia.

17

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
The SEA Directive (EU legislation), adopted in 2001, ensures that environmental consequences of certain
plans and programmes are identified and assessed during their preparation and before their adoption.
The public and environmental authorities can give their opinion and all results are integrated and taken
into account in the course of the planning procedure. After the adoption of the plan or programme, the
public is informed about the decision and the way in which it was made. In the case of likely
transboundary significant effects, the affected Member State and its public are informed and have the
possibility to make comments which are also integrated into the national decision making process. SEA
aims at contributing to more transparent planning by involving the public and by integrating
environmental considerations and therefore to achieving the goal of sustainable development.
Suburbanisation
Suburbanisation is a process related to the development of suburbs around large cities and metropolitan
areas. The process of suburbanisation is generated by the growth (increase of total population) as well as
by internal re-structuring of cities.
Many residents of larger cities no longer live and work in the same urban area, choosing instead to live
in suburbs and commute to work in other areas. Suburbs are inhabited districts located either on the
outer rim of a city or outside the official limits of a city or even the outer elements of a conurbation. The
suburbanisation process is often assimilated to that of urban sprawl, especially when it comes to blame
the growing traffic problems and the destruction of natural landscapes and resources20.
See also Urban sprawl.
Sustainable spatial development
The concept of sustainable spatial development is the main objective of the Guiding Principles.
Sustainability is related to long-term approaches: the benefits provided by spatial development policies
should have long-lasting character and should not be jeopardised by the overlooking of important
interferences between public policies or sectors of activity. Four dimensions of territorial sustainability
have been identified in the Guiding Principles: economic, social, environmental and cultural
sustainability.
While numerous processes are challenging the sustainability of our common European future, policies
aiming at sustainable spatial development have to achieve a variety of tasks such as reducing disparities,
supporting balanced polycentric development, providing measures for the revitalisation of declining
settlements, increasing the efficiency of transport and energy networks, preventing and reducing the
potential damages of natural hazards, protecting and improving the natural and the built environment,
promoting environmentally-friendly practices in agriculture and forestry, achieving a balance between
preserving the existing cultural heritage, attracting new investments and supporting existing living and
working communities in urban and rural areas and increasing public participation in spatial
development approaches21.
See also: Spatial development, Comprehensive spatial development approach.
Sustainability assessment
A high percentage of the costs and environmental burden of products and processes are determined in
early stages of design, often causing impacts for 20 years or more. Sustainability assessment is a method
which has been developed to support enterprises in order to make products and services more sustainable.
The life cycle assessment of products aims at reaching a better understanding of their social, economic
and environmental impacts. Sustainability Impact Assessments are also being carried out in a wider
perspective. The European Union, for instance, carries out SIAs for the negotiations of its major
20
21

Idem.
Ljubljana Declaration on the Territorial Dimension of Sustainable Development. CEMAT. 2003.

18

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
multilateral and bilateral trade agreements22. Various public policies, as well as Public-Private
Partnerships, can also be subject to similar procedures likely to identify their long-term economic, social
and environmental impacts.
Technological risk / Technological hazard
A technological risk is necessarily related to human activities in the fields of manufacturing and energy
production, transport, buildings, public works, etc. Risks due to industrial, nuclear, mining and
subterranean activities or risks due to the transport of hazardous substances (by land, river or sea) or the
threat of a dam rupture are all considered major technological risks.
Prevention against technological risks, aiming at limiting the occurrence of technological hazards as well
as their potential impacts, is prescribed in the respective national legislations. It may comprise measures
pertaining to spatial development policies, especially in terms of land-use policy.
Technopole / Technology centre / Technology park / Science park
A technopole (also called technology centre, technology park or science park) refers to an areas where
numerous private and public activities pertaining to research and development, technological
development, technology transfer, high-level scientific education, high-tech manufacturing activities and
services, etc. are concentrated. In numerous cases, technopoles encompass one or several specialised
cluster(s) of high-tech enterprises, incubators for startups, a business and innovation centre, consultancy
clusters.
The principles governing technopoles are the development of synergies between the various stakeholders
present on the site (enterprises, R&D activities, startups, services, etc.), the selection of activities to be
located on the site (eliminating for instance warehouses or polluting industrial activities), the promotion
and support by public authorities (facilitation of land acquisition and development, support to research
and educational activities, etc.) and finally the availability of an outstanding working environment which
is important for the image of enterprises and organisations present on the site.
Territorial cohesion
The concept of territorial cohesion is an overarching objective of territorial development of the Guiding
Principles and of the ESDP. Although it is included at highest level in official documents, the concept of
territorial cohesion has so far not been the object of an official definition. It is generally considered as
complementary to the objectives of economic and social cohesion and aims at promoting a harmonious
and homogeneous development of the entire territory. A wide agreement prevails on the fact that
territorial cohesion is a multi-dimensional concept with at least three main components23:

territorial quality: the quality of the living and working environment; comparable living standards
across territories; similar access to services of general interest and to knowledge;

territorial efficiency: resource-efficiency with respect to energy, land and natural resources;
competitiveness of the economic fabric and attractiveness of the territory; internal and external
accessibility; capacity of resistance against de-structuring forces related to the globalisation process;
territorial integration and cooperation between regions;

territorial identity: presence of social capital, capability of developing shared visions of the
future; local know-how and specificities; productive vocations and competitive advantage of each
territory.
Territorial cooperation
22

Cf. Communication of the European Commission on sustainability Impact Assessment. 2002.

Roberto Camagni: The rationale for territorial cohesion and the place of territorial development policies in the European model of society.
Paper presented at the Vienna Seminar on Territorial cohesion and the European model of society, July 2005.

23

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14 CEMAT (2006) 6
Territorial cooperation is understood as the development of joint activities related to territorial
development policies for areas belonging to various administrative jurisdictions. Territorial cooperation is
particularly important along national borders, but it is also relevant between administrative units of the
same State. The aim of territorial cooperation is to facilitate territorial integration and to promote more
competitive and sustainable forms of territorial development than would result from individual,
segmented territorial development policies without cooperation. Territorial cooperation is driven by
public authorities of the various levels, but it may associate other types of stakeholders (NGOs, private
sector, civil society).
See also: Cross-border, transnational, interregional cooperation.
Territorial development
Territorial development is understood as the process through which the geography of territories inhabited
by human societies is progressively transformed. It involves physical components (infrastructure,
landscapes and townscapes, etc.), but also the territorial structure or settlement pattern, i.e. the geographic
distribution of population and human activities, in particular the size of and relationships between cities.
Territorial development is a comprehensive concept also used as an objective of public policies
(territorial development policy). This comprehensive character results from the fact that it does not only
aim at economic growth in the respective regions, but also at sustainability in its economic, social,
environmental and cultural aspects. Territorial development has therefore a highly qualitative dimension
requiring substantial amounts of coherence in the conception and implementation of public policies.
It strongly reflects the present context of Europe characterised by low growth rates and strong regional
imbalances. While in the period of strong growth of the post-war decades the main tasks of public
policies regarding the territory were to guide the growth process through land-use regulation, provision
of infrastructure and attribution of incentives to attract investments (the related policy concepts were
territorial planning, amnagement du territoire, Raumordnung, Ordenacion del territorio,
etc.), developing the territory has become a generalised priority in order to provide employment and
services and to reduce the territorial imbalances.
Territorial governance
Territorial governance is a global concept which characterises the way how spatially-relevant policies,
considered together, are applied. Territorial governance is assessed against its contribution to the
achievement of the objectives of spatial development policies. It is the result of the quality of multi-level
and cross-sectoral relationships in the field of public policies. It refers to horizontal and vertical
cooperation in the shaping and implementation of these policies. In this respect, the principles of
subsidiarity and reciprocity advocated in the Guiding Principles, are of particular relevance.
Governance can be understood as the emergence and the implementation of innovative shared forms of
planning and managing of socio-spatial dynamics. At its simplest level, territorial governance can
therefore be understood as the cultural embeddedness and practical application of the general principles
of governance to spatial development policies... sound territorial governance aims at managing territorial
dynamics through indicating the spatial consequences of various policies planned by public and private
sector actors. The aim is to negotiate a set of commonly agreed objectives as well as a framework of
shared responsibilities by the use of spatial development strategies and policies24.
Improving the quality of territorial governance often requires the strengthening of the role of regional
and local authorities which ensure the coherence and increase of efficiency of public policies applied on
the territory.
Territorial potential
24

CEMAT Resolution N 2 (2006) on territorial governance: empowerment through enhanced coordination.

20

14 CEMAT (2006) 6

It has been recognised that each area has a specific potential (or capital) which is distinct from that of
other areas and which is determined by a series of factors which may include the areas geographical
location, size, endowment with factors of production and infrastructures, climate, natural resources,
quality of life and of the environment or the agglomeration economies provided by its cities, the business
incubators, industrial districts or other business network which reduce transaction cost. Other components
are of more social and cultural nature, comprising factors such as traditions, understandings, informal
rules that enable economic actors to work together under conditions of uncertainty, solidarity, mutual
assistance. The concept of territorial potential comprises also a more intangible dimension related to the
outcome of a combination of institutions, rules, practices, actors such as producers, researchers and policy
makers that make a certain creativity and innovation possible25.
The concept of territorial potential (or capital) is underlying the endogenous growth theories and
strategies which have been developed and applied since the 1970s as a reaction against the instability or
negative impacts of exogenous factors causing unemployment, closing down or relocation of businesses.
In recent years, the concept of territorial potential has become topical again because of increasing
international and interregional competition in the context of European integration and accelerating
globalisation.
Territorial impact assessment
Territorial impact assessment is a method which aims at identifying the impacts that all types of spatiallyrelevant public policies, measures and projects may have on the territory, especially on territorial
sustainability and cohesion. In this respect, the territorial impacts to be identified may be of economic,
social, environmental and cultural nature. They may be related to changes in accessibility, biodiversity,
locational preferences, regional/local employment opportunities, quality of life, etc.
Territorial impact assessments are required because numerous sectoral policies/projects influence the
evolution of the territory without necessarily contributing to the implementation of the objectives of
spatial development policies.
Ex-post territorial impact assessments show how policies applied in the past have influenced the
evolution of the territory and which lessons can be drawn from this. They are useful for awarenessraising purposes as well as for the improvement of assessment methods.
Ex-ante territorial impact assessments are necessary to anticipate the potential impacts of future policies
and therefore to facilitate the choice between various possible policy options.
The method of territorial impact assessment is of complex nature because of the numerous possible
interferences to be considered. It is therefore still in a process of elaboration and of improvement.
Town and country planning
Town and country planning is an expression originating from the UK (Town and Country Planning Act of
1947 adopted in the immediate post-war period in response to industrialisation and urbanisation) which
has also been largely used on the whole European continent and comprises a sector of public policies
encompassing various activities, such as land-use planning, urban design, landscape planning, urban
renewal, transport planning, the development of facilities and utilities, etc. The global aim of town and
country planning is to maintain a balance between economic development, social welfare and the
environmental quality.

25

OECD Territorial Outlook. 2001. p. 15.

21

14 CEMAT (2006) 6
Urban area
An urban area is an area which physically forms part of a town or city and is characterised by an
important share of built-up surfaces, high density of population and employment and significant amounts
of transport and other infrastructure (as opposed to rural areas). Urban areas may also comprise non builtup, green areas generally used for recreational purposes by urban dwellers.
See also: Urbanisation, Urban development, Rural area.
Urbanisation
Urbanisation is a long-term process which characterises both the increasing share of population living in
towns and cities and the growth of urban areas.
In Europe the urbanisation process started with the beginning of the industrial revolution in the 18th
century and has been spreading throughout the continent over two centuries in heterogeneous ways. The
process comprises various phases (urbanisation, de-urbanisation or counter-urbanisation, reurbanisation) which have reached the European countries at different times, according to geographical
and historical situations. The level of urbanisation is the share of the total population of a country (or
region) living in towns. The urbanisation rate represents the increase in the proportion of the urban
population over the period26. The urbanisation process of a region has profound effects on its economy
and ecology. There are different forms (or patterns) of urbanisation or concentration of human activities,
settlements and social infrastructures (mono-centric, polycentric settlements, compact cities, suburbs,
etc.).
Urban development
As in the case of spatial development, urban development can be understood as the evolution of a specific
(urban) area or as the various activities contributing to develop this area. Promoting urban development
means acting towards the enhancement of the various economic, social, environmental and cultural
potentials of cities and urban areas.
This involves a wide range of public policies based on multidisciplinary knowledge. The involvement of
the civil society through participatory actions and partnerships is also essential to tackle the complex
issues of urban development. In recent years, the objectives of sustainability and of promotion of
inclusiveness and social cohesion have become topical in urban development strategies.
Urban design
Urban design is a traditional discipline of urban planning which was particularly in fashion when urban
planning was essentially expressed by building plans. Urban design was also particularly used in the
planning of new towns, encompassing the layout of entire cities. More recently, its focus is put on the
planning of public spaces, including the totality of spaces that are used freely on a day-to-day basis by the
general public, especially streets and parks27.
The design, construction and management of public spaces require interdisciplinary inputs (engineering,
ecology, local history, transport planning, architecture, etc.) as well as consultation and negotiation with
a variety of levels and stakeholders.
Urban ecosystem
An urban ecosystem is the community of plants, animals and humans that inhabit the urban environment.
Although it is an area physically dominated by built structures like buildings, roads, sewers and power

26
27

Cf. Free Encyclopedia Wikipedia.

Idem.

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14 CEMAT (2006) 6
lines, it also contains a rich patchwork of green spaces (parks, yards, street planting, greenways, urban
streams, commercial landscaping and unbuilt lots) that provide the living heart of the urban ecosystem.
As separate and fragmented as these elements sometimes appear, they work together as a single
organism. Urban ecosystems are generally highly disturbed systems, subject to rapid changes in soil and
plant cover, as well as temperature and water availability. The plant life in urban ecosystems is different
from that in natural ecosystems too. Even in the citys natural or semi-natural areas like parks, the
vegetation is often highly altered, with many non-native and invasive species. One extremely important
issue for urban ecosystems is their ability to provide healthy environments, both for the natural ecosystem
and for the citizens. Urban ecology, a relatively recent discipline, studies and monitors urban ecosystems
(factors allowing wild plants and animals to survive in built environments, effects of urban development
patterns on ecological conditions) and attempts to shape the conditions of healthier and better managed
communities28.
Urban management
In the general context of spatial development policies, urban management comprises a set of public
policies developed and applied at local or metropolitan level addressing a wide range of issues in the
fields of land-use planning, transportation, housing, urban renewal and reconversion of derelict land and
brownfield sites, environmental protection, waste management, energy and water supply, provision of
services and facilities, economic development, social cohesion and integration, protection and
enhancement of the cultural heritage, cultural promotion and development, etc.
Major urban challenges in Europe are increasingly complex interlinkages between deprivation, low
income, unemployment, poor educational and skill levels, sub-standards housing and inadequate urban
fabric and facilities, progress of urban sprawl, etc.29 Cities have also to promote their competitiveness
and their image in order to develop functions with high economic added value and to attract investments.
A particular task of urban management is the revitalisation of declining inner-city areas and of
problematic suburban areas, addressing not only the physical and environmental characteristics, but also
the economic and social resources of the residents, as well as their socio-cultural integration.
Approaches incorporating housing provision and improvement within more integrated area-based
participatory regeneration programmes are essential elements of urban management policies.
Urban planning
Urban, city or town planning is the planning discipline dealing with the physical, social, economic and
environmental development of metropolitan regions, municipalities and neighbourhoods30. The
expression of urban planning consists in elaborating land-use and building plans as well as local building
and environmental regulations.
Historically (nineteenth century) urban planning was influenced by the newly formalised disciplines of
architecture and civil engineering which began to codify both rational and stylistic approaches to solving
city problems through physical design. During the twentieth century, the domain of urban planning was
expanded to include economic development planning, community social planning and environmental
planning.
Urban renewal / Urban regeneration / Urban revitalisation / Urban rehabilitation / Urban
restoration
Cities are confronted to both the ageing of their fabric and built-up areas and to changes in their economic
functions and in the social characteristics of their population. In order to maintain a harmonious living

28

Cf. Urban Ecosystems profile. Earth on Edge. Bill Moyers Report.

Basis for the Ljubljana Declaration. CEMAT. 2003, in Council of Europe, 13th European Conference of Ministers responsible for
Spatial/Regional Planning (CEMAT), Ljubljana (Slovenia), 16-17 September 2003 : Proceedings, Council of Europe Series European Spatial
Planning and landscape, 2005, n 71 and Documents of the Conference, Territory and landscape Series, 2005, n 1.
30
Cf. Free Encyclopedia Wikipedia.
29

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14 CEMAT (2006) 6
environment, a buoyant economy and a balanced social structure, a number of public (and sometimes
public-private) activities are necessary. A distinction can be made between:

urban renewal which aims at replacing impoverished urban neighbourhoods and derelict areas
by large-scale projects related to housing, services, transport systems, recreation areas, etc. Sometimes,
the costs of urban renewal for living communities is high and this type of activity is nowadays less
frequently carried out than some decades ago;

urban regeneration and revitalisation which aims at transforming the obsolete socio-economic
base of certain urban areas into a more sustainable socio-economic base through the attraction of new
activities and companies, modernisation of the urban fabric, improvement of the urban environment and
diversification of the social structure;

urban rehabilitation and restoration which aims mainly at regenerating and conserving the
built heritage or the urban environment, including the ecosystems. In addition to the refurbishment of
historical buildings and townscapes, such activities also comprise the modernisation and upgrading of
technical facilities and the respect of environmental and security norms and standards.
Urban-rural partnerships
Rural-urban interactions can be defined as linkages across space (such as flows of people, goods, money,
information and wastes) and linkages between sectors (for example between agriculture and services and
manufacturing). In broad terms, they also include rural activities taking place in urban centres (such as
urban agriculture) and activities often classified as urban, such as manufacturing and services) taking
place in rural settlements.
In recent decades, urban-rural interactions have intensified throughout Europe, in terms of commuter
flows, recreation and leisure activities, settlement of former urban dwellers in rural areas, location of
formerly urban functions and activities in rural areas, etc. In other words, the urban influence of cities on
rural areas has increased. Rural-urban linkages are important to achieve balanced economic
development and to reduce vulnerability of less favoured rural regions. Rural-urban interactions have
often critical influences on natural resources use and management, especially in the peri-urban interface.
In order to promote harmonious territorial development, urban-rural partnerships are being set up
between urban and rural communities (generally represented by local authorities but also involving
NGOs and the civil society) aiming at providing services, protecting natural and environmental
resources, favouring regular contacts between urban and rural communities, developing economic
synergies, etc.
Urban sprawl
Urban sprawl is the unplanned, uncontrolled spreading of urban development into areas adjoining the
edge of a city. The term is also used to designate the expansive, rapid and sometimes reckless growth of a
greater metropolitan area over a large area. Urban sprawl is characterised by several land-use patterns
such as single-use zoning (commercial, residential, industrial), car-depending communities, low-density
land-use but larger scale of development than older established areas (wider roads, larger stores with
expansive parking lots) and lack of diversity in design, sometimes creating a sense of uniform urban
environment31.
See also Suburbanisation
Urban structure / Settlement structure
A morphological /functional appraisal and analysis of towns, cities and other settlements makes possible
to identify their structure. The urban structure is characterised by the main elements and functions
existing inside the urban area, such as the morphology of the city (compact or dispersed, single nucleus or
31

Idem.

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14 CEMAT (2006) 6
multiple nuclei), the distribution of urban areas according to age (medieval, post-war, etc.), to main
functions (commercial, housing, industrial, recreation, etc.), to social distribution and organisation (poor
and derelict areas, gentrified areas, middle-class areas, areas with a high proportion of immigrants, etc.),
the main characteristics of transport and communication axes (road system, public transportation system).
The settlement structure refers to the characteristics of the distribution of towns, cities, villages, hamlets,
etc. at a wider scale. In this respect, differences can be made between: agglomerated regions (various
settlements organised around a dominating metropolitan area), dispersed settlements (homogenous
distribution of small and medium-sized urban entities over an area), polycentric settlement systems
(organisation of a region around several urban entities), networks of cities (strongly interdependent urban
entities in terms of functions without physical continuity), conurbations (groupings of various urban
entities close to each other).

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