Visions and a court decision – actual issues of German spatial development and planning

Abstract

The Standing Conference of Ministers responsible for Spatial Development in Germany adopted the “Visions and Strategies for Spatial Development in Germany” on 9th March, 2016. Its common orientation of German spatial policy comprises four strategic concepts: enhancing competitiveness, ensuring the provision of public services, controlling and developingland use sustainably and adapting spatial structures to the effects of climate change and shaping an energy turn-around. The article reports on the ministers’ resolution on the fourth strategic concept (the other three concepts are known to the readers of Tér és Társadalom), and on the resolution on the system of central places. Finally, the article deals with a 2015 decision of the Federal Administrative Court which strengthens both the rights of landowners and, indirectly, the normative quality of spatial development plans.