Call for Papers for a special issue on Transit-Oriented Development in Built-up Areas in the journal: Raumforschung und Raumordnung | Spatial Research and Planning (RuR) (rur.oekom.de)
The updated ARL Country Profile of Estonia, authored by Kristiina Martin and Kadi Väli, provides a comprehensive overview of the country’s spatial planning and territorial development system, outlining its governance framework, institutional structure, and planning system.
How is spatial planning organised across the four nations of the United Kingdom? The new ARL Country Profile examines the country's planning systems, governance structures and territorial context.
Building Successful Cross-Boundary Governance from AlpPlan to the Baltic Sea. Short recap on the second ARL Roundtable Discussion at the World Planning School Congress 2026 in Helsinki
Around 30 percent of Germany’s population lives in small towns. Yet housing debates and research continue to focus predominantly on large cities and metropolitan areas. The new ARL position paper “Housing in Small Towns: Current Challenges in Research and Practice” addresses this blind spot and calls for a more differentiated understanding of small-town housing markets.
On July 3, 2026, as part of the World Congress of Planning Schools in Helsinki, a panel discussion titled “Land Policy to Reduce Land Consumption in Europe: On the Path to Net Zero” took place.
The ARL Working Group “AlpPlan” hosted a workshop dedicated to discussing the role of spatial planning in addressing the effects of glacier melt on landscapes, territories, and communities across the European Alps.
The Förderkreis für Raum- und Umweltforschung (FRU) invites submissions for the FRU Sponsorship Award 2026, focusing on European Cohesion Policy in times of multiple transformations.
Spatial planning seen by planners: Spatial planning seen by planners Are you (or have you been) working in the field of urban design, urban development or spatial planning? Share your experience!
Cities & Health, in partnership with the Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association (ARL), announces a new Special Issue dedicated to the transformative role of visualisation in tackling health inequities through urban planning.
A new ARL Country Profile by Giancarlo Cotella (2026) explores the evolution of Italy’s territorial governance system, from traditional urbanistica to contemporary strategic and regionalised planning approaches shaped by EU cohesion policy and multilevel governance.
The Czech Republic’s spatial planning system is characterised by a unitary state structure combined with a decentralised multi-level governance system shaped by post-socialist reforms and EU integration. The updated ARL Country Profile of the Czech Republic, authored by Univ.-Prof. Karel Maier, provides a concise overview of its constitutional and administrative framework, key planning instruments, and the hierarchical relationship between national, regional and local levels in spatial development.
From 28 to 30 May 2026, AlpPlan will participate in Forum Alpinum 2026. On 28 May, an AlpPlan workshop and the annual General Assembly will take place in Aosta.
How can the accelerated expansion of renewable energy be reconciled with biodiversity protection and meaningful public participation? Around 30 participants from research, administration and policy came together to discuss one of the key challenges of the energy transition.
France’s spatial planning system is characterised by a strong tradition of state involvement combined with increasing decentralisation and a complex multi-level governance structure. The updated ARL Country Profile of France, provides a concise overview of its constitutional and administrative framework, key planning instruments, and the evolving relationship between national, regional and local levels in spatial development.
Hosted by the ARL and organised by Dr. Martina Schorn (Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics, Rural and Mountain Research) and Dr. Lena Greinke (Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover) the ARL Lunch Talk “Planning the Future for Youth in Europe’s Shrinking Areas” took place on Thursday, 19.3.2026, 13:00-14:00h.
On 6 and 7 May 2026, the international symposium “Land use challenges in European Metropolitan Regions – exchanging promising spatial planning approaches” will take place in Berlin.
Are you a young professional or student interested in shaping the future of spatial planning in the Baltic Sea Region? The VASAB Young Planners’ Summer School 2026 offers a unique opportunity to engage with key challenges such as climate change adaptation, resilience, mobility, and sustainable land and sea use.
The updated ARL Country Profile of Luxembourg, authored by Tom Becker and Prof. Markus Hesse, provides an overview of the country’s spatial planning and territorial development system. It outlines Luxembourg’s multilevel governance, municipal networks, and strategic planning framework, while highlighting the role of European integration, cross-border cooperation, and sustainable development challenges in a small, highly internationalized state.
