(Taylor & Francis, 2015) Fernández-Güell, José Miguel
In this national commentary, José Miguel Fernández-Güell outlines the strengths and challenges of urban planning in Spain. While municipal planning is widely institutionalised, regional planning often remains symbolic due to political resistance. The article highlights a growing conceptual crisis in planning, driven by inefficiencies, corruption, and disconnection from contemporary needs. Planners increasingly focus on sustainability, mobility, and public space, yet media and public interest remain low. A significant theory-practice gap persists, with limited integration of academic thought into professional action. The article also touches on urban inequality, educational pathways, and the need for a European policy that balances cohesion with subsidiarity.