Quality and implementation of local plans: An integrated evaluation

Local plans are key components of municipal planning and scholars have developed methodologies to evaluate them. However, the purpose and use of local plans may vary, making their evaluation challenging, especially in comparative studies. In this context, existing evaluation methodologies that target local plans do not always account for the purpose of plans when evaluating their quality. Moreover, it is still unclear whether high-quality plans are better implemented than plans of lower quality. In this paper, we propose an integrated evaluation approach that links plan quality to implementation. To assess plan quality, we developed a flexible framework that accounts for the fact that local plans may present different characteristics according to their purpose. The framework rests on the analysis of the communication- and action-oriented dimensions of plans, and a system of coordinates that enables the classification of plans into four types (i.e. visions, blueprints, communicative policy acts, and basic plans) according to the score on each dimension. Plan implementation, assessed as conformance and performance, is determined based on the perception of local planners. Our approach and framework are applied to a set of 37 Swiss local plans. The approach is presented in a transparent way and requires basic numeracy skills, making it accessible to scholars and planning practitioners. Findings may be used to guide municipalities towards enhancing the quality of plans and identify best practices.