Planning & Development Research Unit Ku Leuven

The research unit Planning and Development in KU Leuven is a long standing multidisciplinary research group experienced in applied and policy-oriented as well as fundamental research in the field of spatial planning, territorial development and socio-spatial innovation. The research unit is specialised in the strategic and institutional aspects of spatial planning, urban and regional territorial development and planning debates, social innovation in territorial development, issues of diversity and socio-ecological dynamics, with a specific attention to new methodologies and concepts for action and implementation-oriented planning processes. It also has a wide experience in the role of participation in spatial policy development. In its recent research activities, P&D has strengthened research expertise in the fields of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and planning methods and the perspectives of ‘the commons’ in relation to the politics of spatial development and environmental justice. Together with the European Network for Spatial Development Planning (ESDP), P&D is organizing the International Module for Spatial Development Planning (IMSDP, until 2017 EMSDP).