Potentials for Polycentric Development in Europe: The ESPON 1.1.1 Project Report

This is the first in a number of planned reviews of the outputs of the European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON) (see http://www. espon. lu). The work of ESPON carries forward the Study Programme on European Spatial Planning coordinated by Nordregio (http://www. nordregio. se) in seeking a better understanding of spatial development trends across Europe. The research complements the European Spatial Development Perspective (Committee on Spatial Development (CSD), 1999) and its related action programme which identified the need for more knowledge of spatial development trends at this scale and their relationship with other community policies and actions. ESPON comprises about 30 projects being undertaken by more than 100 partners in transnational teams and to a large extent emerge from the policy options promoted in the ESDP. The programme differentiates between thematic, policy impact and cross- thematic projects. Many of the projects are now completed and their findings potentially provide a rich source of data, information and understanding for planning practice and research. The projects deal with many spatial planning- related issues including, among others: the impacts of enlargement on spatial development; the management of natural and technological hazards; the management of the natural heritage; the territorial impact of Structural Funds; and the creation of scenarios for the future spatial development of Europe. This first review examines findings from the project on polycentric and balanced spatial development in the European Union (EU).