24 <strong>Sp<strong>at</strong>ial</strong> <strong>Planning</strong> & Str<strong>at</strong>egy research
Urbanism . <strong>TU</strong> <strong>Delft</strong> 25 [RESEARCH] SPS Research Focus DOMINIC STEAD The <strong>Sp<strong>at</strong>ial</strong> <strong>Planning</strong> and Str<strong>at</strong>egy Section is concerned with the formul<strong>at</strong>ion, implement<strong>at</strong>ion, and evalu<strong>at</strong>ion of policies, visions, str<strong>at</strong>egies, plans, and programmes for urban regions. Members of the <strong>Sp<strong>at</strong>ial</strong> <strong>Planning</strong> and Str<strong>at</strong>egy Section are involved in research to understand and advise how to coordin<strong>at</strong>e and manage sp<strong>at</strong>ial development in large urban regions including those in the Global South. A central focus is the issue of governance. Research is often interdisciplinary in order to address the complex interactions between different policy sectors (e.g. transport, housing, w<strong>at</strong>er), different levels of decision-making (e.g. local, regional, n<strong>at</strong>ional), and different types of actors (e.g. governments, NGOs, and citizens). Research frequently addresses the performance of urban regions in terms such as environmental sustainability, social cohesion, and economic competitiveness. Members of the Section regularly employ compar<strong>at</strong>ive methods to examine intern<strong>at</strong>ional case studies and to understand how lessons for policy and practice can be transferred. The research carried out in the Section seeks to be relevant and accessible to the needs of policy-makers and practitioners involved in urban and regional transform<strong>at</strong>ion. The researchers in the Section are well connected to communities of practice across many parts of the world including Europe, Asia, and L<strong>at</strong>in America. The three research topics which are central to the <strong>Sp<strong>at</strong>ial</strong> <strong>Planning</strong> and Str<strong>at</strong>egy Section comprise: 1. Environmental and sp<strong>at</strong>ial justice. Environmental issues, including adapt<strong>at</strong>ion and mitig<strong>at</strong>ion str<strong>at</strong>egies in rel<strong>at</strong>ion to clim<strong>at</strong>e changes, are amongst the most urgent challenges across the globe, especially in rapidly urbanising societies. Thre<strong>at</strong>s in rel<strong>at</strong>ion to environmental quality are not evenly spread across societies which make sp<strong>at</strong>ial justice an even more pressing issue than it already is. 2. <strong>Planning</strong> tools, systems, and cultures. <strong>Planning</strong> systems in many countries are changing due to processes of decentralis<strong>at</strong>ion and deregul<strong>at</strong>ion. New forms of effective and legitim<strong>at</strong>e territorial governance tools are in high demand and there is a gre<strong>at</strong> need for learning across different cultures and contexts. 3. Intern<strong>at</strong>ional urbanis<strong>at</strong>ion and development planning. The emphasis here is on sustainable urbanis<strong>at</strong>ion in the Global South. Key planning issues include rapid economic growth, high urbanis<strong>at</strong>ion r<strong>at</strong>es, weak institutions, low planning capacity, and/or post-conflict situ<strong>at</strong>ions. Research aims to inform the prepar<strong>at</strong>ion of plans and str<strong>at</strong>egies th<strong>at</strong> tackle these issues, including the applic<strong>at</strong>ion of frameworks for sustainable urban development, such as the New Urban Agenda (2016) and the Sustainable Development Goals (2015).