Definition

“Spatial planning is, as its name suggests, spatial planning. Any attempt to go beyond this definition can only be linked to particular objectives or perspectives because the very notion of planning is so vague.”

“Because, as P. GOVAERT (UCLouvain University of Belgium) expresses it, spatial planning can be considered as “a know-how that implements ideologies, theories and methods, the aim of which is to organize space in a coherent way both in terms of activities and equipment and networks”.

“G. CORNU (2000) defines spatial planning as a policy aimed at a better distribution of people according to natural resources and economic activities (and entrusted in France, in particular, under the direct or delegated authority of the Prime Minister, to a general delegation for spatial planning and regional action) which results in a very diverse set of measures: urban planning, economic planning, agricultural orientation, industrial decentralization, regional expansion.”

“BRUNET (1993), on the other hand, emphasizes the voluntary and considered action of a community on its territory, either at the local level (rural, urban, local development), at the regional level (major regional development, irrigation) or at the national level (territorial development).”

“Urban development consists of operations of various types and sizes that are part of the general urban planning policy. This may include the development of new urban areas, residential or industrial areas, urban renewal.”

Source: http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/x2038f/x2038f04.htm#bm04.1

From development to planning

In a projective way, spatial planning is declined in the form of territorial planning as urban planning.