Planning in Transition

This book explores the profound transformations in spatial planning in Greece over recent decades. Influenced by European Union policies, the economic crisis, and subsequent institutional reforms, the regulation and governance of spatial development have been reshaped. Simultaneously, new challenges such as climate change, disaster risk, large-scale redevelopment projects, and infrastructure investments have expanded the scope and significance of planning policy.

Bringing together fourteen contributions from leading scholars and practitioners, this edited volume examines key aspects of these changes. The chapters delve into diverse topics, including planning reforms during the economic crisis, the evolving interplay between public regulation and private-led development, the impact of European territorial policy instruments, regional development dynamics, infrastructure and transport planning, maritime spatial planning, and the protection of landscapes and cultural heritage.

Providing a comprehensive overview of the Greek planning system during a period of transition, the book highlights the tensions between established regulatory traditions and emerging governance approaches. It will appeal to scholars, policymakers, practitioners, and students in the fields of spatial planning, urban studies, geography, planning reform, and policy. While focusing on Greece, the volume also contributes to broader discussions on spatial planning and governance across Europe.

The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Planning Practice & Research. This book edition features a new Foreword and Preface.