1. Urbanization and new land-use and urban policy tools
European Enviornment Agency, Meeting 13 October 2015
EIONET National Reference Centres Land Use and Spatial Planning (NRC LUSP)
Portugal
Urbanization and new land-use and urban policy tools
A brief overview
Cristina Cavaco
Deputy-Director General
DGT – Directorate-General for Territorial Development

2. Overview on territorial and population trends and dynamics
Population distribution and urbanization:
Exodus from inland and rural areas to coastline and urban areas;
Growth of urban areas, especially the metropolitan areas
Spatial development asymmetries:
AML & AMP - Atlantic Urban Continuum
Urban continuum of Algarve
Depopulated interior axis
Portuguese municipalities by population size (2011)
Variation of population by municipality
( )

3. Overview on territorial and population trends and dynamics
Land take and urban growth:
Disproportion between lank take and population growth
Expected demographic decline in the future

4. Land take in Portugal
A variation rate of more than 40%

5. Land take in Portugal
6.89%
4.1%
2.8%

6. Urbanization and
Critical enlargement of urban perimeters

7. Urban Sprawl Extensive urbanisation patterns:
Critical enlargement of urban perimeters;
Land retention for real estate speculation purposes;
High property values inside urban perimeters;
Ad hoc construction
Expansion of road infrastrucutres (highways and motorways)
Urban sprawl: unplanned leapfrog developments; disperse low density settlements; spatial segregated land uses; fragmentation of agricultural and forestry areas; dysfunctions on rural-urban relationships.
Image credits: Filipe Jorge

8. Land & Real estate speculation

9. Illegal Settlements Illegal subdivision of the land;
Construction without legal permits;
Lack of basic infrastructures;
Lack of public spaces and social facilities;
Mainly concentrated in coastal and metropolitan areas;
Legalization law since 1995:
Responsibility of the local governments – through detail plans;
no interference of central administration authorities that simply follow the process;

10. Dynamics of decline Shrinking cities:
Shrinkage and devitalization of central and historical areas;
Donut effect – demographic decrease and economic loss and stagnation in city centers;
Accelerated population ageing and aggressive gentrification processes;
Abandonment and decrepitude of the existing building stock;
Freezing of house rents during several decades;
Lack of financial capacity to promote urban rehabilitation.

11. Dynamics of decline Territorial liabilities:
The high construction rates of the last decades;
The slowing down of population growth;
The outburst of the global financial crisis (2008)
Critical situation of the real estate market and the housing stock:
Surplus in the housing sector ( vacant houses);
Abandon of recent buildings and urban operations that have remained unfinished.
Image credits: Nuno Travasso

12. Dynamics of decline
Image credits: ESPACETUR, FAUL

13. New Land Use Legal Regime – 2014 Reform
LBPSOTU
Framework Policy Act
Structured by 3 basic laws:
Land & Land-Use, Spatial Planning and Urban Development Framework Policy Act
Planning Instruments Legal Regime
Urbanisation and Building Legal Regime
Organized in 4 levels:
national
Regional
Intermunicipal
municipal
Based on 2 types of planning tools
L. nº31/2014
30 May
LD. Nº80/2015
Awaiting
promulgation
LD. nº136/2014
9 September
RJIGT
Legal regime for Territorial Management Instruments
RJUE
Legal regime for Urbanisation and Building

14. Land-use Regime at Local Level Land-use Categories
Master Plan Albufeira (1995)

15. New Strategy for Cities
Reference Framework for Sustainable Urban Development
The steering wheel

16. Strategic Guidelines Axis 1. Smartness & Competitiveness
Connectivity and internationalization
Jobs and entrepreneurial and institutional strengthening
Urban innovation
Identity and attraction
Communication and information technology
Axis 2. Sustainability & Efficiency
Urban regeneration
Housing
Urban environment
Low carbon
Climate change and risks
Urban-rural integration
Axis 3. Inclusion & Human Capital
Social inclusion
Empowerment and initiative
Culture, citizenship and accountability
Urban communities
Axis 4. Place-based and Governance
Information and knowledge
Networking and institutional qualification

17. ISO 37 120 1. Monitoring Tool 2. Adoption of international standards
Barometer of Urban Sustainability: monitoring tool for cities benchmarking, national and internationally
2. Adoption of international standards
ISO
Sustainable Development of Communities: Indicators for City Service and Quality of Life
3. Governance Tool

18. Thank you!
Objectives