Facilitating urban area development - a hype or a valuable municipal role?

Abstract

This graduation report studies the facilitating role of the municipality in the urban area development process in the Netherlands. Though this role is often mentioned in articles, it has not been defined due to a gap in literature and a gap in practical knowledge on the subject. This research tries to reduce that gap, by understanding the municipal roles, goals, measures and means to steer urban area development projects better and by conceptualising the facilitating role. This is done by answering the main research question: ‘What does the role of a facilitating municipality in the urban area development process in the Netherlands entail?’. An extensive literature study and a case study with five embedded cases provide valuable information to answer that question. The facilitating role is part of a framework of four municipal roles to steer urban area development projects: shaping plans, regulating markets, stimulating markets and facilitating the process. The facilitating role is supported by three measures: acquiring market information and knowledge, managing market rooted networks and organising the municipal project team. These measures are supported by a set of means and pre-conditions. The facilitating role is about facilitating the process of urban area development and does not mean ‘letting go’, ‘laissez-fair’ or facilitate only market party stakeholders. The facilitating role can be played by the municipality in all phases of the life-cycle of an urban area and regardless of the form of public-private co-operation.