dr M. Grochowski
Development of
contemporary cities is determined by many different factors. The most
important among them is globalization and technological progress. Major
cities all over the world have been confronted with two vital
inter-linked questions: how can social and spatial disparities and the
resulting societal and spatial fragmentation be mitigated? How can local
economic growth, international and inter-regional competitiveness and
new employment opportunities be stabilized or achieved? Traditional,
sectoral approaches to meet these and other challenges have often proved
to be expensive and inefficient or even were a total failure.
Therefore, new forms of urban areas development and new forms of
governance have gained importance by involving different actors in
decision making processes. The lecture is devoted to changing approaches
to urban management, new techniques and instruments.
Spatial planning
is a key instrument for establishing long-term, sustainable frameworks
for social, territorial and economic development both within and between
countries. Its primary role is to enhance the integration between
sectors such as housing, transport, energy and industry, and to improve
national and local systems of urban and rural development, also taking
into account environmental considerations. It also aims at raising
awareness of the importance of increased community involvement and
social cohesion as well as of the role of all parties concerned in
territorial development in the implementation of housing and related
policies and in environmental protection. This course focuses on
principles of spatial planning and its role in setting a framework for
sustainable development at regional and local scale.