INTA roundtable - 27 October 2011: "Shopping in Europe" - INTA International Urban Development Association

INTA roundtable - 27 October 2011: "Shopping in Europe"

The expected influence of the EU Services Directive on retail planning in The Netherlands

woman shopping This INTA Roundtable, organised in the scope of the Community of Competence "Urban Services Dynamics" addressed the anticipated influence of the recently enforced EU Services Directive on retail planning in The Netherlands. The Services Directive prohibits any form of economic planning and considerations of competition. Since these considerations have been part and parcel of the Dutch retail planning system for a long time, significant consequences can be expected, which was discussed in this roundtable.

Although the language of the roundtable is Dutch, key conclusions of the meeting are summarized in English and shared with the entire Community.

Topics addressed

How can the Services Directive contribute to a more flexible planning system and can we avoid spatially unwanted developments (e.g. large peripheral outlets that contribute to urban sprawl)?
Positive versus negative planning: often, Dutch planning systems aim to protect certain areas (e.g. city centres) by restricting development elsewhere (e.g. peripheries). Will the Services Directive force a move towards a more positive planning regime, i.e. stimulating desired developments rather than forbidding undesired developments?;
Single-use versus mix-use: single-use has an adverse effect on liveability and vibrancy. Mix-uses should be stimulated rather than restricted in planning, as is often now the case. Will the Services Directive help to promote mix-use urban environments?;
Technological and regulatory innovations enable mixing of uses, e.g. internet-retail and the Services Directive;
Under the Services Directive, planning regulations and project decisions have to be based on "overriding reasons related to the public interest" (in NL: "dwingende redenen van algemeen belang"). How far can this definition be stretched?

Agenda

14:00       Welcome
14:10       Basic explanation of the EU Services Directive and its most significant provisions (Iskander Haverkate)
14:30       Key bottlenecks between the Directive and the Dutch planning regime (Dick Hendricks, Gijs Heutink, Martijn Kanters)
14:45       First round of discussion, determining focus of debate
15:30       Coffee Break
15:45       Second round of discussion, leading to conclusions
17:00       Close

Confirmed participants