Spatial Planning

Spatial planning is an administrative technique and a broader policy developed at different scales, which goes beyond land-use regulation by including economic, social, and environmental development policies. It comprises a complex system of different levels of plans that adhere to the principle of hierarchy of norms. On all spatial levels, different professional orientations, such as urban development, housing, traffic, landscape, infra­structure or the legal frame­work are considered as both independent and interrelated conditions. It presumes to anticipate and prepare, to make preparations and supplies for the future. This involves preparing for future land uses, addressing city demands and strengthening regulations of land use and buildings. 

Spatial planning tries to coordinate and improve the impacts of other sectoral policies on land use, in order to achieve a more even distribution of economic development within a given territory than would otherwise be created by market forces. Spatial planning could also be defined as regional planning activities, including strategies, policies and sectoral programs and specific integrated documentation for balanced spatial development and sustainable set of methods used by the public sector to ensure a rational organization of planning, environmental protection and economic and social goals (according to the principles of sustainable development).