Enabling sustainable area development; analysis of innovations in legislation, urban governance practices, and voluntary developer efforts that help create sustainable areas within the German and Dutch borders

Abstract

The master thesis researches which / how public legislation, urban governance practices and voluntary developer efforts enable sustainable area development in Germany and the Netherlands. Knowledge is gathered through semi-structured expert interviews in four case studies (2 per country). Research reveals similarities but also differences between both countries. It can be said that all three investigated aspects largely influence sustainable area developments in Germany and the Netherlands. While public legislation is only partly utilized, urban governance practices are deployed extensively whereas voluntary efforts occur in each case as well. Comparing results, Dutch municipalities seem more willing to experiment with ambitious plans and are more aware of the challenging nature of regulating practices. German municipalities in contrast like to steer a sustainable area development from the start and make use of multiple regulations to achieve desired end-state. Both countries recognize and foster the potential of financial incentives as well as practices that increase knowledge and communication among actors to enable sustainable area development. Additionally, it becomes apparent that voluntary efforts are another contributor in both countries, however can collide with regulations. Their exact form differs widely in each case, which is based on actor-complexity.