The Changing Position of Strategic Spatial Planning in Flanders. A Socio-Political and Instrument-Based Perspective

This article explains how and why strategic spatial planning in Flanders has gone through some important transformations in the last 20 years. To do this, it relates spatial planning and its tools to some major societal changes. It first explains some of the complexities of this interplay from a theoretical point of view and argues for a socio-political and co-evolutionary perspective on planning tools. The article then provides some empirical evidence, exploring Flemish planning tools in general and strategic spatial planning more specifically. Although not evident at first sight, it appears that both the tools and the socio-political position of Flemish strategic spatial planning have changed. This poses some major challenges in rehabilitating spatial planning tools and repositioning spatial planning in Flanders.