Sustainable and Integrated Urban Planning and Governance in Metropolitan and Medium-Sized Cities

Integrated Strategies for Sustainable Urban Development (ISUD) can drive sustainable strategic planning in both metropolitan and medium-sized cities, but their effectiveness is hindered by limited citizen and stakeholder involvement. A comparative study of Barcelona and Évora reveals that while ISUD provides a framework for addressing socioeconomic challenges—such as depopulation in Évora or neighborhood disparities in Barcelona—it struggles to fully engage local stakeholders during planning and implementation. The analysis highlights the need for stronger participatory approaches to align ISUD with broader policy goals, including territorial cohesion, raising questions about its potential to reverse depopulation trends in medium-sized towns.

Medeiros, E., & van der Zwet, A. (2020). Sustainable and Integrated Urban Planning and Governance in Metropolitan and Medium-Sized Cities. Sustainability, 12(15), 5976. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12155976