ESPON 1.4.1 “THE ROLE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED TOWNS (SMESTO)” ESPON Seminar Espoo, Finland, Nov. 14th 2006 Workshop 1 on “Polycentricity as a territorial potential” HAS CRS

Objectives: Can SMESTOs be standardised all over Europe? ESPON 1.4.1: Objectives Objectives: Can SMESTOs be standardised all over Europe? What are the restrictions to empirically identify SMESTOs all over Europe? What are the main roles and functions of SMESTOs? What are possible options for a typology of SMESTOs? What are possible policy implications concerning SMESTOs?

Urban studies concentrate on large towns and cities ESPON 1.4.1: Main Findings Research situation: Urban studies concentrate on large towns and cities There is no systematic research on SMESTOs although policy making increasingly refers to them Statistically the material available on European level is very weak

Can SMESTOs be standardised all over Europe? ESPON 1.4.1: Main Findings Can SMESTOs be standardised all over Europe? 5,000 to 10,000 inhabitants (NUTS 5) 20,000 to 50,000 inhabitants

Three step analytical approach: ESPON 1.4.1: Main Findings Does it make sense to identify SMESTOs empirically on a European level? Three step analytical approach: 1. Administrative dimension: municipal boundaries 2. Morphological dimension: built up-areas with less than 200m space in between buildings and 200+ inhabitants

ESPON 1.4.1: Main Findings Result: different relations between morphological SMESTOs and municipalities Morphological SMESTOs in Austrian NUTS 3 region Klagenfurt – Villach

ESPON 1.4.1: Main Findings Is there a way to deal with the complexity of a functional characterisation of SMESTOs? supply function housing function function in regional development culture & leisure function SMESTOs, their endowment and their commuting areas

Three step analytical approach: 1. Administrative dimension ESPON 1.4.1: Main Findings Is there a way to deal with the complexity of a functional characterisation of SMESTOs? Three step analytical approach: 1. Administrative dimension 2. Morphological dimension 3. Functional dimension: adding transport network and amenities/public services (functional potential) calculating the effort that is necessary to reach the desired amenities/public services

Result: the functional potential/endowment of SMESTOs ESPON 1.4.1: Main Findings Result: the functional potential/endowment of SMESTOs SMESTOs and their endowment in NUTS 3 region Klagenfurt – Villach

ESPON 1.4.1: Possible typologies How can a typology of SMESTOs be achieved that can be adopted all over Europe? spatial position socio-economic performance relationship morphological / administrative units Morphological units 1 n Administrative units dynamic and growing Declining Restructuring potential developing

ESPON 1.4.1: Research needs and policy recommendations Research/ digital data needs: maps delimiting built-up area territorial governance levels, updated NUTS 5 map of Europe selection and identification of amenities/public services detailed ground transport network model No specific European ‘SMESTO policy’, but rather an integrated approach addressing SMESTOs in: Urban Policy Regional Policy Spatial Development Policy

ESPON 1.4.1: Research needs and policy recommendations