Spatial Planning and Building Control in Germany: Comprehensive, Impactful and Innovative Planning as a Pathway to Sustainable Communities (RTPI Library Series)

Review

“Spatial Planning and Building Control in Germany is a superb resource for better understanding planning policy, the legal framework for spatial planning, and decision-making processes for development at the local level in Germany. There are fascinating discussions about urban reinvestment (redevelopment), property rights, and public-private partnership initiatives. Particularly noteworthy are the many examples of best practices from a number of German cities – including large and medium-size cities, as well as smaller municipalities. In many ways, this book offers a very useful and complete standard for understanding local government planning. It also provides a comprehensive look at 21st century urban planning with applications to other nations and the challenges their local communities face."Dr. Rocky Piro, FAICP, retired planner and professor, former Director, Colorado Center for Sustainable Urbanism"Since the earliest days of modern planning, Germany has been at the international forefront of planning thought and practice. Today, we in the English-speaking world admire the quality of the results of German planning. Yet we know surprisingly little about how it operates. This concise and clearly written book therefore fills an important gap. The authors discuss the main concepts and models shaping German professional thinking and detail the legal processes that combine a high degree of certainty while giving real scope where appropriate for continuing discretion and debate. This book will be a valuable reference for all wishing to understand why German planning consistently performs so well when compared to other countries."Stephen V. Ward, Emeritus Professor, Oxford Brookes University"This important and timely book should be essential reading for anyone interested in comparative planning systems. The authors provide a much needed detailed and critical account of the German spatial planning system outlining how it approaches key planning challenges such as achieving sustainable development and balancing local autonomy and strategic co-ordination. The inclusion of case studies provides valuable illustrations of these principles in practice and enables the reader to take insights well beyond the German context."Professor Emeritus Sue Brownill, BA, PhD, MRTPI (Associate), Professor of Urban Policy and Governance School of the Built Environment Oxford Brookes University"This text provides an essential guide to one of Europe's most sophisticated planning systems. Robin Ganser and Alexander Kukk examine Germany’s constitutional frameworks, planning paradigms and contemporary planning challenges, presenting systematic analysis of legal instruments and planning procedures. A key resource for planners, policymakers, and scholars seeking proven approaches beyond their national context."Dave Valler, Professor of Spatial Planning, School of the Built Environment, Oxford Brookes University"In an era defined by rapid urbanization, demographic shifts, and the pressing challenges of climate change, understanding robust planning frameworks has never been more critical. This book provides an extraordinary and detailed window into the German planning system―a unique 'learning system' celebrated for its federal balance, local sovereignty, and constant drive for innovation.Professors Robin Ganser and Alexander Kukk bridge the gap between complex legal theory and practical application with remarkable clarity. By exploring everything from the strategic regional level to the intricacies of local land-use law, they reveal how Germany fosters sustainable, water-sensitive, and compact urban environments. This work doesn't just describe a system; it showcases a dynamic integration of systematic research and built reality, illustrated through compelling good-practice projects.Whether you are an international scholar seeking comparative insights or a practitioner looking for proven solutions to brownfield redevelopment and environmental adaptation, this book is an essential resource. It is a masterclass in how institutional structures can evolve to meet the 21st century's most pressing spatial challenges. Highly recommended for anyone dedicated to the future of sustainable urban development."Dr. Robert Seegmüller, Judge at the German Federal Administration Court, former Vice-President of the Constitutional Court of the State of Berlin

Dr. Rocky Piro,

“Spatial Planning and Building Control in Germany is a superb resource for better understanding planning policy, the legal framework for spatial planning, and decision-making processes for development at the local level in Germany. There are fascinating discussions about urban reinvestment (redevelopment), property rights, and public-private partnership initiatives. Particularly noteworthy are the many examples of best practices from a number of German cities – including large and medium-size cities, as well as smaller municipalities. In many ways, this book offers a very useful and complete standard for understanding local government planning. It also provides a comprehensive look at 21st century urban planning with applications to other nations and the challenges their local communities face."