What Makes Plan Implementation Successful? An Evaluation of Local Plans and Implementation Practices in New Zealand

Philip Berke, Michael Backhurst, Maxine Day, Neil Ericksen, Lucie Laurian, Jan Crawford and Jennifer Dixon
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Philip Berke: Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, New East Building, CB 3140, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3140, USA
Lucie Laurian: School of Planning, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Jan Crawford: Planning Consultants Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand
Jennifer Dixon: Department of Planning, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Environment and Planning B, 2006, vol. 33, issue 4, 581-600

Abstract: Failure to implement plans has long been considered a significant barrier to effective planning. We examine two conceptions of success in plan implementation (conformance and performance), the effects of the implementation practices of planning agencies, and the capacity of agencies and permit applicants to bring about success. A key lesson from our New-Zealand-based evaluation is that implementation is somewhat weak. Another key point is that, if implementation is defined and measured in terms of conformance, plans and planners have an important influence on implementation success. Alternatively, if implementation is defined and measured in terms of performance, plans and planners are less influential in implementation. These lessons have broad implications for the theory and practice of plan implementation.

Date: 2006
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:envirb:v:33:y:2006:i:4:p:581-600

DOI: 10.1068/b31166

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