Soil and land use research in Europe: lessons learned from INSPIRATION bottom-up strategic research agenda setting

We introduce the INSPIRATION bottom-up approach for the development of a strategic research agenda for spatial planning, land use and soil-sediment-water-system management in Europe. Research and innovation needs were identified by more than 500 European funders, endusers, scientists, policy makers, public administrators and consultants. We report both on the concept and on the implementation of the bottom-up approach, provide a critique of the process and draw key lessons for the development of research agendas in the future. Based on identified strengths and weaknesses we identified as key opportunities and threats 1) a high ranking and attentiveness for the research topics on the political agenda, in press and media or in public awareness, 2) availability of funding for research, 3) the resources available for creating the agenda itself, 4) the role of the sponsor of the agenda development, and 5) the continuity of stakeholder engagement as bases for identification of windows of opportunity, creating ownership for the agenda and facilitating its implementation. Our derived key recommendations are 1) a clear definition of the area for which the agenda is to be developed and for the targeted user, 2) a conceptual model to structure the agenda, 3) making clear the expected roles, tasks, input formats regarding the involvement and communication with the stakeholders and project partners, 4) a sufficient number of iterations and checks of the agenda with stakeholders to insure completeness, relevance and creation of co-ownership for the agenda, and 5) from the beginning prepare the infrastructure for the network to implement the agenda

Mit Mengenbegrenzungen die Flächenneuinanspruchnahme planen: Flächenrechner 2.0

Der Flächenrechner 2.0 ist eine Webanwendung, mit der die Träger der kommunalen und regionalen Planung abschätzen können, was das regionale Herunterbrechen eines bundesweiten Flächensparzieles für sie bedeuten würde. Per Mausklick können u.a. Informationen über die Flächenneuinanspruchnahme in der Vergangenheit sowie über regionale bzw. kommunale Kontingente, die in Zukunft bei bundesweit geltenden Flächensparzielen (auf dem Weg zu deutschlandweit weniger als 30 Hektar pro Tag bis 2030) auf Basis der Einwohnerzahl eingehalten werden müssten, abgerufen werden. Der Flächenrechner 2.0 zeigt zudem einen bilanziellen Vergleich zwischen den Kontingenten und der bisherigen Flächenneuinanspruchnahme. Zusammenfassende bzw. exemplarisch ausgewählte Daten werden in einer Deutschlandkarte dargestellt. Zusätzliche Detaildaten können für jede Gebietskörperschaft aus interaktiven Diagrammen und Tabellen entnommen werden

Sticks and stones: the impact of the definitions of brownfield in policies on socio-economic sustainability

Many countries encourage brownfield regeneration as a means of sustainable development but define “brownfield” differently. Specifically, the definitions of brownfield in the regeneration policies of countries with higher population densities usually promote recycling land that is previously developed, whether or not there is chemical contamination. Further, the de facto definition of brownfield used by the UK government focuses on previously developed land that is unused or underused. The ANOVA in this study revealed that local authorities in England (n = 296) with higher percentages of derelict and vacant land tended to be more deprived based on the English Indices of Multiple Deprivation, which evaluate deprivation from the aspects of income, employment, health, education, housing, crime, and living environment. However, the percentage of previously developed land in use but with further development potential had no significant effect on the deprivation conditions. The Blair-Brown Government (1997~2010) encouraged more than 60% of new dwellings to be established on the previously developed land in England. The analyses in this study showed that this target, combined with the definition of brownfield in the policy, may have facilitated higher densities of residential development on previously developed land but without addressing the deprivation problems. These observations indicate that a definition of brownfield in regeneration policies should focus on previously developed land that is now vacant or derelict if land recycling is to contribute to sustainable communities

The role of liability, regulation and economic incentives in brownfield remediation and redevelopment: evidence from surveys of developers.

We examine market-based incentives intended to promote the environmental remediation and reuse of brownfields, such as reductions in regulatory burden, relief from liability for future cleanups and subsidies. We survey real estate developers using conjoint choice questions to assess their responses to these incentives. Conditional logit models indicate that developers find contaminated sites less attractive, and that they value liability relief. Moreover, developers with prior contaminated site experience are very responsive to government subsidies, whereas inexperienced developers are more responsive to liability and regulatory relief. These results suggest that market-based incentives and regulatory relief can influence land use

Addressing Goal Conflicts: New Policy Mixes for Commercial Land Use Management

Commercial land use management that focuses on a future-oriented urban and regional development must address multiple goals. Effective policy mixes need to simultaneously (1) improve city-regional and inter-municipal cooperation, (2) reduce land take, and (3) assure the long-term economic development of a region. Using the Northern Black Forest in Germany as a case study, we brought together planning and land use research with public policy analysis. We applied cross-impact balances (CIB) to build and analyze a participatory policy-interaction model. Together with a group of 12 experts, we selected effective individual measures to reach each of the three goals and analyzed their interactions. We then assessed the current policy mix and designed alternative policy mixes. The results demonstrate that current approaches to commercial land use management present internal contradictions and generate only little synergies. Implementing innovative measures on a stand-alone basis runs the risk of not being sufficiently effective. In particular, the current practice of competing for municipal marketing and planning of commercial sites has inhibiting effects. We identified alternative policy mixes that achieve all three goals, avoid trade-offs, and generate significant synergy effects. Our results point towards a more coherent and sustainable city-regional (commercial) land-use governance

Critical success factors in urban brownfield regeneration : an analysis of 'hardcore' sites in Manchester and Osaka during the economic recession (2009-10)

Hardcore, or long-term derelict and vacant brownfield sites which are often contaminated, form a significant proportion of brownfield land in many cities, not only in the UK but also in other countries. The recent economic recession has placed the economic viability of such sites in jeopardy. This paper compares the approaches for bringing back hardcore brownfield sites into use in England and Japan by focusing on ten case studies in Manchester and Osaka, using an `agency'-based frame- work. The findings are set in the context of (i) national brownfield and related policy agendas; (ii) recent trends in land and property markets in both England and Japan; and (iii) city-level comparisons of brownfields in Manchester and Osaka. The research, which was conducted during 2009 ^ 10, suggests that hardcore brownfield sites have been badly affected by the recent recession in both Manchester and Osaka. Despite this, not only is there evidence that hardcore sites have been successfully regenerated in both cities, but also that the critical success factors (CSFs) operating in bringing sites back into use share a large degree of commonality. These CSFs include the presence of strong potential markets, seeing the recession as an opportunity, long-term vision, strong branding, strong partnerships, integrated development, and getting infrastructure into place. Finally, the paper outlines the policy implications of the research