Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Why
There is today, according to my experience, a growing interest and
demand for a more inclusive and transparent planning process. Also,
if we are going to be able to reach a truly sustainable society it is my
belief that there is a need for a more integrated collaboration between
different actors. Where the social, economic and ecological values can
influence and benefit from each other. The question then is, how can
the planning system accommodate that kind of collaboration?

Purpose
My aim for this thesis has been to study a selection of the theoretical
work that exist about collaborative planning. Also I chose to study a
local project with the aim of creating a planning team, composed of
residents from the village. By comparing the theory with the experience
from the project I was hoping to reach a better understanding of the
possibilities and problems with collaborative planning. This is needed to
learn about how a collaborative planning process could be improved in
a Swedish context.

Theory
For the theoretical study I have focused on work by professor emeritus
Patsy Healey who is one of the leading expert on collaborative planning.
To connect her theoretical work to a Swedish context I have also
studied work by Swedish researchers. The main reasons for implementing
a more inclusive planning system that I found in the theoretical
work are:
- Increased social and institutional capital.
- Combination of professional and experience based knowledge.
- Broader understanding and acceptance for the planning issues and
solutions.
- Possibility of better representation of different actors and values within
the society.
Collaborative planning
– a comparative study of theory and practice

What needs to be done:
- Thoroughly examine the structure of the process and the prerequisites
for it to function.
- Expose and balance the power structure.
- Find an unbiased process leader that is able to both to facilitate the
process and balance the power relations.
- Clearly define the possibilities and limits for the project and the different
actors mandate.
- Identify actors and compose a balanced representation in the project.
Collaborative planning as P Healey proposes, is a policy driven planning
process. Experts, inhabitants, storekeepers e t c form a team that
through consensus agrees on a policy to use as guidance for the future
planning. By focusing on policy decisions it is possible to reduce the
risk of conflicts connected to specific geographic issues. The policy is
then translated into an action plan.

Project
As a second part of my thesis I have been observing a project and
interviewing the participants. The project had the aim to establish a
local planning team for a regeneration project. From the interviews it
became apparent that the relations between the team, politicians (who
gave the group the mandate)and the civil servants and specialists within
the municipality's organisation were of great importance. The issues that
were discussed and the projects that were initiated were usually small in
scale and very site specific.

Conclusion
What is needed to improve the possibilities of a truly collaborative
planning is primarily process leaders that can balance and facilitate the
process. There is also the need for political support and the ability to
balance the power relations within the group. A long time commitment
will also be necessary for the success of such a process. There is in my
opinion a suitable scale to start these processes and that is some
where in between the local development plan (small scale) and
the comprehensive plan (large scale).