Temporal Governance and the Politics of Time Beyond Delay in Spatial Planning
This article examines how governance structures and procedural timing influence the effectiveness of Territorial Management Instruments (TMIs) in Portugal. Anchored in a comparative analysis of two key legal reforms (Decree-Law No. 380/1999 and Decree-Law No. 80/2015), the study explores the tension...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Urban Science |
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| author | Jorge Gonçalves Beatriz Condessa Sofia Bizarro |
| author_facet | Jorge Gonçalves Beatriz Condessa Sofia Bizarro |
| author_sort | Jorge Gonçalves |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article examines how governance structures and procedural timing influence the effectiveness of Territorial Management Instruments (TMIs) in Portugal. Anchored in a comparative analysis of two key legal reforms (Decree-Law No. 380/1999 and Decree-Law No. 80/2015), the study explores the tensions between democratic legitimacy and regulatory complexity. While the 1999 framework emphasized vertical coordination and participatory rights, it often led to procedural rigidity and institutional inertia. Conversely, the 2015 reform promoted digital tools and streamlined processes but introduced new governance gaps, reduced stakeholder diversity, and compressed consultation timelines. Drawing on a qualitative analysis of legal texts, policy documents, and technical documentation, the article introduces the concept of temporal governance, the idea that planning time is not merely a constraint but a governable resource. Through this lens, planning delays are reframed as either pathological (caused by inefficiency and fragmentation) or productive (used strategically to enhance environmental assessment and stakeholder engagement). A new conceptual framework is proposed to classify types of planning time, differentiate delays, and support temporal calibration in governance design. Findings show that effective planning outcomes hinge not only on legal architecture or participatory norms but also on the institutional ability to balance speed with deliberation and strategic foresight with procedural pragmatism. The paper concludes by calling for adaptive governance models that integrate time as a dynamic dimension of spatial planning, with implications for environmental resilience, democratic value, and, above all, institutional trust. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6c724eceea574dc68ea477073462adae |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2413-8851 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Urban Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-6c724eceea574dc68ea477073462adae2025-08-20T02:47:14ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512025-07-019727910.3390/urbansci9070279Temporal Governance and the Politics of Time Beyond Delay in Spatial PlanningJorge Gonçalves0Beatriz Condessa1Sofia Bizarro2Center for innovation in Territory, Urbanism and Architecture, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalCenter for innovation in Territory, Urbanism and Architecture, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalInstituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, 1049-001 Lisbon, PortugalThis article examines how governance structures and procedural timing influence the effectiveness of Territorial Management Instruments (TMIs) in Portugal. Anchored in a comparative analysis of two key legal reforms (Decree-Law No. 380/1999 and Decree-Law No. 80/2015), the study explores the tensions between democratic legitimacy and regulatory complexity. While the 1999 framework emphasized vertical coordination and participatory rights, it often led to procedural rigidity and institutional inertia. Conversely, the 2015 reform promoted digital tools and streamlined processes but introduced new governance gaps, reduced stakeholder diversity, and compressed consultation timelines. Drawing on a qualitative analysis of legal texts, policy documents, and technical documentation, the article introduces the concept of temporal governance, the idea that planning time is not merely a constraint but a governable resource. Through this lens, planning delays are reframed as either pathological (caused by inefficiency and fragmentation) or productive (used strategically to enhance environmental assessment and stakeholder engagement). A new conceptual framework is proposed to classify types of planning time, differentiate delays, and support temporal calibration in governance design. Findings show that effective planning outcomes hinge not only on legal architecture or participatory norms but also on the institutional ability to balance speed with deliberation and strategic foresight with procedural pragmatism. The paper concludes by calling for adaptive governance models that integrate time as a dynamic dimension of spatial planning, with implications for environmental resilience, democratic value, and, above all, institutional trust.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/279territorial governanceparticipatory planningplanning delaystemporal governanceregulatory complexity |
| spellingShingle | Jorge Gonçalves Beatriz Condessa Sofia Bizarro Temporal Governance and the Politics of Time Beyond Delay in Spatial Planning Urban Science territorial governance participatory planning planning delays temporal governance regulatory complexity |
| title | Temporal Governance and the Politics of Time Beyond Delay in Spatial Planning |
| title_full | Temporal Governance and the Politics of Time Beyond Delay in Spatial Planning |
| title_fullStr | Temporal Governance and the Politics of Time Beyond Delay in Spatial Planning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal Governance and the Politics of Time Beyond Delay in Spatial Planning |
| title_short | Temporal Governance and the Politics of Time Beyond Delay in Spatial Planning |
| title_sort | temporal governance and the politics of time beyond delay in spatial planning |
| topic | territorial governance participatory planning planning delays temporal governance regulatory complexity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/279 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jorgegoncalves temporalgovernanceandthepoliticsoftimebeyonddelayinspatialplanning AT beatrizcondessa temporalgovernanceandthepoliticsoftimebeyonddelayinspatialplanning AT sofiabizarro temporalgovernanceandthepoliticsoftimebeyonddelayinspatialplanning |