Ink and ideas
Manifesto exercises for shaping equitable cities
C.E.L. Newton (TU Delft - Spatial Planning and Strategy)
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Abstract
Recent decades have seen planning colonised by neolib¬eralism (Tasan-Kok & Baeten, 2012). The infiltration of neoliberalism into planning has manifested not only in the mere retrenchment of the state in the planning discussion (illustrated in The Netherlands by a gradual dismantling of the state’s planning apparatus since 2002, until the dissolution of the VROM -the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Envi¬ronment- in 2010) but also in its pervasion of various aspects of the planning practice. In the context of the neoliberal paradigm, space is commodified, and its value is predominantly determined by attributes such as its geographical location, which in turn is closely linked to land values. This commodification serves to pri¬marily benefit investment and development interests. Although the juxtaposition of neoliberalism and planning may appear con¬tradictory, current planning practice has primarily evolved to ac¬commodate development and investment. As a result, cities en¬gage in competitive branding to allure international companies, investors, and affluent classes, often employing large-scale rede¬velopment schemes or smaller neighbourhood enhancements through iconic architecture (Tasan-Kok & Baeten, 2012). This transformation of planning caters to a privileged minority, side¬lining the crucial need to address broader urban challenges and fostering equitable development for all urban inhabitants. [...]
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