To Enhance Social Equity Through Urban Planning: The Potential for Innovation

Abstract

This chapter explores the innovation potential of one of the most challenging and unruly goals of planning. Namely, how planning can support the development of more socially equal communities, and consider innovation needs in terms of the need for development of new ideas, practices and instruments of planning. Over the past twenty years, one has observed a significant increase in the attention, expertise, tools and actual experience of integrating public health into planning. However, while reduction of social inequalities is part of the public health agenda, the awareness and concrete experience with this concern is lacking in today’s planning practice. Based on the ideas and experiences of a Delphi Panel, as well as relevant research results, this chapter identifies and discuss promising steps for strengthening the awareness to social inequality as a goal for local development and planning, and specific instruments capable of lifting this concern into the core of planning.