Capacity of local authorities in spatial planning

Municipalities play a key role in spatial planning. There, decision-making is generally in the hands of democratically elected representatives, supported by professional advice from planning experts. This paper presents results from an online survey conducted in Iceland in 2023 among elected representatives in local government and local planning committees, mayors, local authority planning staff and planning consultants, a total of nearly 800 people. The response rate was 50%. Previous studies have indicated that the administrative and professional capacity of Icelandic municipalities in spatial planning is limited, which can result in planning decisions being based on insufficient information and immaterial considerations and result in unsustainable land use and development. Studies of local government plan-making in other European countries have also drawn attention to issues like lack of professional competence and difficulties in recruiting planning specialists as well as, among others, lobbying and corruption in local government plan-making. Preliminary findings from the survey raise questions on the administrative and professional capacity of Icelandic local authorities in spatial planning concerning among other high turnover among both elected councillors and local authority planning staff, reliance on private planning consultants and experience of pressure from stakeholders and corruption. The survey was conducted as part of a research project which aims to shed light on the administrative and professional capacity of Icelandic municipalities in spatial planning and present ideas for maintaining and strengthening the administration and professional capacity of municipalities in spatial planning. Furthermore, the project is also expected to contribute knowledge that can be transferred to situations in other countries, where social structure and administration of spatial planning are comparable.