Relation Between Strategic and Normative Aspects in Local Spatial Plan

The master’s thesis deals with the meaning and role of the strategic aspect of spatial planning in light of changed social, economic and environmental conditions around the world. Based on a review of theoretical points of departure and objectives, including strategic spatial development documents on the EU level, we found that Slovenia has the same obligations and opportunities as all the other member states as regards fulfilling the European principles for sustainable spatial development. The basic element of achieving European standards lies in duly exercised roles of individual administrative levels of decision-making. Based on a review of the systems of spatial planning and environmental management in certain EU member states, we have verified records of the methods used at local levels to monitor strategic guidelines for spatial planning. It was found that the relationship between long-term, strategic, and operative, short-term aspects of spatial planning is not very clearly defined in other countries as well, where effective realisation of strategic guidelines relies to a great extent on administrative organisation of the respective social-political regulation. Based on a description of practical aspects of the current situation in spatial planning at the local level, it was found that Slovenia lacks real strategic planning. Due to the prevalent explicit protection requirements, the context of strategic spatial planning has been practically lost. In relation to this issue, the thesis deals with the question of state supervision over municipal spatial planning and the role of the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning in relation to other departments. It was found that our latest attempts to rationalise planning procedures by amending our spatial planning legislation have been unsuccessful. The fact is that Slovenia needs an umbrella act that would set spatial planning in a suitable role of management and coordination in relation to individual sectors, which would be a vital prerequisite for implementation of a contemporary European standard of spatial planning