Unpacking integration: policy instruments in planning for land-use and transport integration

Integrated Land-Use and Transport (LUTI) planning is crucial for improving sustainable urban development through the synergistic interactions of land-use and transport systems. However, the adoption of integrated planning objectives provides no guarantee for implementing LUTI policies as opportunities for integrated policymaking diminish progressively through the planning process. Aiming to identifying how to improve the implementation of LUTI, this paper examines the current use of policy instruments across the planning process in four European cities, Groningen, Amsterdam, Helsinki, and Turku. The study adopts a qualitative research approach, combining policy document analysis and semi-structured interviews with local and regional practitioners. Distinguishing between procedural and substantive policy instruments and according to the NATO typology, this study demonstrates how cities employ primarily information, personnel, and owned property as resources to influence the enhancement of land-use and transport integration. Fragmentation in detailed planning arises from sector-specific policy packages, emphasizing the need for improved procedural instruments to foster multisectoral collaboration. Unpacking the integration of land-use and transport planning indicates how strategic visions for LUTI can improve planning practice. However, their translation into actionable projects does not always occur due to a lack of inter-sectoral coordination of resources and consideration of the project-management contexts.