Introduction to Spatial Planning for a Circular Economy

Examine the role of spatial planning in the circular transition with TU Delft

The transition to a circular economy is complex and dynamic with no single, definitive approach.

On this two-week course, you’ll orient yourself with the key concepts and principles of circular regional spatial development vision.

You’ll explore how spatial planning can contribute to the circular transition, and what this looks like in different regional contexts.

Learn about circular regions and environmental planning

You’ll examine the circular region and contextualise your knowledge of circular strategies and value chains, before choosing your own case study region to assist your learning throughout the course.

You’ll look at the three phases that a city or region must go through when transitioning towards circularity, delving into the vision phase, strategy making, and action plans.

With this knowledge, you’ll be able to trace the process of circular transition, informing your understanding of future spatial developments.

Investigate the circular economy

There are many conceptualisations of circularity, though all reference reuse, recycling, and reducing energy and material loops.

You’ll further your understanding of the six dimensions of circularity, examining the conceptualisation of circularity, the material dimension, applied sustainability frameworks, the social dimension, territorial and spatial dimension, and the assessment and monitoring dimension.

You’ll be equipped to apply and justify a circular approach to future planning initiatives and development.

Discover concepts in regional spatial development

Building on your understanding of circularity, you’ll explore how this can be realised within the context of spatial development.

You’ll finish this course with a deeper understanding of circularity, regional spatial development, and how the two overlap.

This course is designed for those working or studying in the field of spatial planning or circularity who wish to connect their understanding of the two concepts.

It will benefit professionals in urban planning including circularity experts, spatial planners, project advisors, and policy makers on spatial circularity.

• Introducing Circularity and Regional Spatial Planning
• Introduction
• Regional Spatial Visions and Strategies
• What is a Circular Region?
• Assignment: Selecting your Case Study Region
• Week 1 Wrap-up
• Connecting Regional Spatial Planning and Circularity
• Introduction
• How are Regional Spatial Planning and Circularity related?
• Assignment: Regional Circularity Document
• Course Test
• Week 2 Wrap-up and Next Steps