Politicisation, polarisation and public participation: planning history of Groningen, the Netherlands, in 1970's (2)

In the city of Groningen, the Netherlands, besides the Traffic Circulation Plan (Verkeerscirculatieplan, VCP), another epoch-making plan was introduced in the 1970's. It was the Broad Local Land Use Plan for the inner city, which was approved by the municipal council in 1978. It was one of the first local land use plans in the Netherlands that covered the whole inner city. It also adopted contemporary themes, like the strengthening of the encounter function of the inner city, and secured them legally. In this respect, it was, like the VCP, epoch-making by the standard of today as well as in those days. On the other hand, also concerning its planning process, almost the same characteristics were identified as in the case of the VCP. The planning documents published were all very difficult for the public to understand, and, consequently, most of the public did not participate in the planning at all. The few conflicts that emerged between neighbourhood organisations and institutions were solved through polarisation. The new left politicians again took the initiative in the planning.