Stadtplanung als Disziplin. Alltag und Selbstverständnis von Planerinnen und Planern

The article aims to reflect on the everyday planning practice to approach the so-called core of urban planning as a discipline and, thereby, to identify the implications for the professional self-conceptions of planners. Based on a cross-sectional survey of planners in public administration in German middle-size cities, it can be stated that urban planning commands specific substantial key aspects and the including expert knowledge. But urban planning fails to convey its societal importance and to crystallize the identity of planning. Although urban planners ensure that the procedures run as smoothly as possible and the projects are legally secure, the formalisation of urban planning also limits the scope for planners to make decisions and can be seen as a reason why conceptual approaches to responsible urban development are rarely found. This is also reflected in the self-understanding and role perceptions of planners, who see themselves more as project and process managers than as innovators or initiators. In addition, everyday professional life is increasingly determined by interdisciplinary working methods and specialist knowledge, which is another characteristic of urban planning. At the same time, however, the pronounced interdisciplinarity is also the greatest weakness of urban planning, since the multitude of approaches, forms of knowledge and methods means that there is no distinct, identifiable core of planning. However, a joint understanding on this seems to be crucial to provide planners with a new orientation how to achieve sustainable urban development by using proactive, strategic and cooperative planning strategies.