Developing Co-Creation in Municipality's Urban Planning: focus on citizens' role

Co-creation has in the recent decade been one of the most commonly exploited methods in development projects when there is a need to integrate the end user into the development project. This research studied possibilities for co-creation in urban planning in the context of the end users’ role – citizens. The objective of the study focused on the role of the citizens and particularly at the beginning of the urban planning process. The study had selected a case study from the on-going local detailed plan in Espoo – Metsätonttu plan. By following the interaction process, the weak parts in interaction of the urban planning can be revealed. In addition, the methods for strengthening the interaction can be delineated by monitoring the process. The study introduced how the urban planning processes have been altered from the expert leading development through participatory and communicative practises towards co-creation. The current urban planning process – Metsätonttu plan has been studied with an ethnographic approach. The field work relied on the observation of workshops and a plan walk. In addition, it has used supporting methods like questionnaires, feedback, interview of the planner and earlier implemented studies for the whole Espoo. The study took place from January 2021-June 2022. The thesis presented a framework for planning, designing and managing an open goal-oriented collaboration with broad audiences (FLIRT model) by Manu 2010, 125. In this thesis, it adapted the model on the urban planning. In particular, the study focused on three elements of the FLIRT model: language, incentives and rules. Those elements play an important role in the early stage of urban planning. In this study, the elements were considered from the point of view of local detailed planning. It is proposed that three elements of the FLIRT model - language, incentives and rules - will suit well for local detailed planning in order to invite and commit the participants to co-creation. However, the study did not provide any general model for the role of the citizens but suggested that each planning processes should tailor their own roles for citizens depending on the overall structure of co-creation. In the beginning of the planning process, there should be a clear co-creation structure so that the citizens can evaluate their time and activity to be spent. It would commit and encourage participants to integrate better in the co-creation process