Spatial planning, which covers, among other things, the planning, construction, use, maintenance and renovation of all components of the environment, is an area where all aspects of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – come together in the “public interest”.
This is one of the reasons why the European Union included territorial cohesion among the objectives of social and economic cohesion in the Lisbon Treaty. The aim of the latter is to ensure the harmonious development of all regions and to enable citizens to make the most of their natural assets. This means that territorial cohesion is a tool for making diversity an asset and thus contributing to the sustainable development of the EU. Territorial cohesion is therefore not entirely analogous to economic and social cohesion, which can also or mainly be promoted by financial resources but is based precisely on evaluating all policies through a spatial approach, over larger areas and over a longer period.
Space is inextricably linked to the environment and nature. Environmental protection and nature conservation are practical impossible unless we also pursue the objectives of sustainable spatial planning. Nature cannot be preserved only in protected areas because the principle of biodiversity cannot be limited to these areas. Technological measures alone, without spatial measures, are also not sufficient to limit climate change. The energy savings that can be achieved with new technologies in buildings cannot be achieved without sustainable energy generation and energy savings in transport and production. The gap between individual short-term interests and collective long-term benefits makes the environmental problems in spatial areas even more critical.
Spatial planning is inextricably linked to environmental protection and the prudent use of natural resources (land, energy, water). The consequences of spatial planning decisions are reflected in the physical world and are very long-term. The coherent development of the transport and settlement network and the construction of infrastructure, linked to spatial planning restrictions, determine the quality of life in settlements and the vitality and attractiveness of the countryside. Very different and conflicting interests are at stake in spatial planning processes. It is therefore important for society that independent actors in the field of spatial planning – NGOs, local initiatives and different community practices – are able to play the role of public interest advocate.
