Territorial Development, Cohesion and Spatial Planning: Knowledge and Policy Development in an Enlarged EU

by Neil Adams (Editor), Giancarlo Cotella (Editor), Richard Nunes (Editor)

This book examines some of the evolving challenges faced by EU regional policy in light of enlargement and to assess some of the approaches and trends in terms of territorial development policy and practice that are emerging out of this process. Focusing on the experiences on Central and Eastern Europe, these chapters reflect on the diversity of approaches to spatial planning and the the politics of policy formation and multi-level governance operations - from local to trans-national agendas.

Promoting increased awareness and understanding of these issues is the main purpose of the book, as well as harnessing the extensive capacity and 'knowledge' within these countries that can greatly enrich the discourse within an enlarged 'epistemic community' of European spatial planning academics, practitioners and policy-makers. The recently acquired CEE dimension provides a unique opportunity to examine the evolution of existing 'epistemic communities' as well as to explore the potential emergence of new ones..

488 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Neil Adams is Senior Lecturer in Spatial Planning at London South Bank University and Course Director of its BA Urban and Environmental Planning Course. After studying at Cardiff University he worked for local authorities in Walsall and Bradford in the field of urban regeneration before moving to Belgium. In Belgium he worked initially as a freelance planner before starting work for a Brussels based consultancy working on projects for Flemish authorities. Between 1999 and 2005 he worked as project leader exclusively on international projects primarily in Central and Eastern Europe in the field of regional development.

Adams' research interests include European Spatial Planning, regional and rural development, the territorial cohesion agenda, processes of Europeanisation and the interplay between knowledge and policy development. Alongside research activities in relation to EU funded programmes such as ESPON, He has extensive experience in providing consultancy for organisations such as the World Bank in the field of regional development and spatial planning.

Adams has published two edited books, contributed chapters to various books, authored several articles for academic journals and presents papers regularly at international conferences.