Metropolitan Research Institute

Metropolitan Research Institute, Budapest

Urban Development Projects

SPIMA – SPATIAL DYNAMICS AND STRATEGIC PLANNING IN METROPOLITAN AREAS (2016-2017)

The spatial concept of Zürich metropolitan Area – METRO-ROK

Client: ESPON EGTC

Duration: November 2016 – December 2017

MRI, under the coordination of Alterra (Wageningen University) and in cooperation with the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research was commissioned by ESPON to implement a targeted analysis in order to evaluate the results of metropolitan governance in ten European metropolitan areas, and develop guidelines to improve the efficiency of cooperation, specifically in the field of spatial planning. In all 10 stakeholder areas 6-10 interviews were carried out and all the relevant metropolitan documents were analysed. MRI was particularly responsible for the case of Brno, Prague and Vienna.

The analysis of the cases highlighted that the benefits of metropolitan cooperation are obvious on expert level, while it is much more difficult to convince the local stakeholders. As far as win-win development projects are concerned the cooperation can be set up in a bottom-up way. In case the interests of some of the parties can be hurt at least on the short run than top-down interventions are needed: this is the case when regional or national authorities enter the process and create the legislative framework.

Spatial planning is a good tool for cooperation even in the absence of formal metropolitan organisation. This is usually one of the first steps of cooperation (just after the common transportation systems), however the strength of different spatial plans differs very much and most of them lack the tools for implementation: e.g. these plans can restrict growth where it may be harmful for nature but can hardly accelerate growth where it would be more economical. Still the SPIMA project called the attention of the stakeholders that the survey among the 10 stakeholders discovered the importance of knowledge sharing and the human factor behind the cooperation: one of the most relevant success factors turned to be leadership and putting the question into the political agenda.

Outputs of the projects are available here.

Green Surge (2013-2017)

Client: Directorate General for Research and Innovation (European Commission)

Duration: October 2013 – September 2017

 

The 7th framework project is a collaborative project between 24 partners in 11 countries. It identifies, develops and tests ways of linking green spaces, biodiversity, people and the green economy in order to meet the major urban challenges related to land use conflicts, climate change adaptation, demographic changes, and human health and wellbeing. It provides a sound evidence base for urban green infrastructure planning and implementation, exploring the potential for innovation in better linking environmental, social and economic ecosystem services with local communities.

Structure of the Green Surge project: 

 

 

The work packages of the research project covered very broad range of topics: planning of green infrastructure, participatory governance of green spaces, economic indications of green space management, biological and biocultural diversity of green spaces in urban environment. In case of all topics several scientific deliverables and guidelines were developed in order to assist the experts and decision makers on local and national level.

All the deliverables of the project can be found at:

http://greensurge.eu

 

Preparation of an Integrated Territorial Development Strategy for Ditrict XIII of Budapest (2016)

Client: District XIII of Budapest

Duration: Febraury 2016 – September 2016

Beside developing the Integrated Urban Development Strategy for District XIII in 2008 and conducting its bi-annual monitoring and reviews, in 2016 the Metropolitan Research Institute also developed the Integrated Territotorial Development Strategy of the District. The document was divided into two major units: the Backround Analysis for development and the Strategy itself.

According to the main statement of the underlying part (Background Analysis), District XIII is a progressive, dynamically developing district with a favorable urban structure. The engine of the dynamic development is a thoughtful, disciplined and transparent city management adapted to a long-term vision, in which the district seeks to maintain a partnership among all stakeholders and satisfy all the interests and prosperity of its population. The Strategy itself was developed based on the findings of the Background Analysis. It tries to overcome the contradiction that it must be forward-looking, investor-orienting, and at the same time flexible and capable of accommodating new aspirations. The strategy identifies mid-term development goals to be achieved as well as the range of interventions and implementation tools for their integrated implementation, helping the success of the next 5-7 years of urban development activities. Due to the integrated role of the Strategy, it is striving to ensure that the main development activities in the district are implemented in a coordinated way – both in time and space, creating the required synergies between the different elements and areas of development.

CATCH_MR (Interreg): Cooperative approaches to transport challenges in Metropolitan Regions (2010-2012)

INTERREG IVC. Lead partner: Berlin-Brandenburg

CATH_MR explored sustainable transport solutions in seven European Metropolitan Regions: Oslo/Akershus  in Norway; Gothenburg in Sweden; Berlin-Brandenburg in Germany; Vienna-Lower Austria; Budapest-Central Hungarian Region in Hungary; Ljubljana Urban Region in Slovenia; and Rome-Lazio Region in Italy. MRI staff was involved as experts on the Budapest research tranche.