Sectoral Versus Metropolitan Spatial Planning in Tehran

This paper discusses the necessity of spatial metropolitan planning to address the problems of fragmented policy-making. The analysis of sectoral urban policy-making has resulted in attempts towards integration and transformation of planning approach from “land-use” to ‘” spatial” planning. An integrated, spatial planning suitable to resolve complicated, inter-sectoral issues focuses on affecting urban areas, and resolving complex and interrelated socio-economic and environmental problems. Despite the recognition of cities as self-governing entities in Iran, decisions are made by a divided public sector representing competing interests. Various attempts, implicit or explicit, to initiate an integrated and spatial metropolitan planning system have factually failed to change planning and management approaches in Tehran. The purpose of this paper is to answer the question of why, despite the opportunities traceable in legal frameworks for establishing a more integrated and comprehensive policy-making and planning system and mechanism capable of coordinating sectoral policies at the metropolitan level, has failed to replace sectoral attitudes. Using qualitative content analysis to the official document prepared for Tehran, a series of conflicting issues are exposed. These are, those between policy-making and planning by the elected as against appointed authorities, those between the acceptance of the status of urban as against national management and planning, those between “research” and “policymaking” on promoting integration amongst policies, those between “procedural” versus “substantive” aspects” of planning, and those that relate to different concepts of integrated spatial planning. These are the most important obstacles in the way of exploiting potential legal opportunities for spatial planning in Tehran.