Submit a Manuscript to the Journal
Planning Practice & Research
For a Special Issue on
Spatial Planning and Spatial Development in Central and Eastern Europe
Abstract deadline
Manuscript deadline
Special Issue Editor(s)
Maciej J. Nowak,
Department of Real Estate, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin
macnowak@zut.edu.pl
Milan Husar,
Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava
milan.husar@fm.uniba.sk
Velislava Simeonova,
Department of Geography, University of Barcelona
v.simeonova@ub.edu
Alexandru-Ionut Petrisor,
1. Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism, Bucharest; 2. Technical University of Moldova; 3. National Institute for Research and Development in Construction, Urbanism and Sustainable Spatial Development URBAN-INCERC, Bucharest
alexandru_petrisor@yahoo.com
Spatial Planning and Spatial Development in Central and Eastern Europe
The special Issue aims to explore how spatial planning shapes spatial development in central and eastern Europe (CEE). Existing discussions suggest that many countries in the region share certain characteristics in spatial development as a result of similar historical trajectories in the second half of twentieth century. These include the strong position of private property owners and investors, and the limitations of legal and administrative planning frameworks. However, these assumptions require broader and more systematic examination, taking into account both the specific characteristics of individual countries and the diverse spatial consequences of planning and development processes.
The special issue therefore welcomes contributions addressing the following themes:
- The role of market forces and private property interests in shaping spatial development and influencing the objectives and outcomes of spatial planning.
- Legal, institutional and administrative frameworks for spatial planning, including their capacity to guide, regulate and control development processes.
- The role of public authorities in regulating spatial planning, with particular attention to the effectiveness and limitations of planning instruments.
- Development pressures affecting environmentally attractive and sensitive areas, and the capacity of planning systems to reconcile development with environmental objectives.
- Tensions between formal and informal planning practices.
- The Impact of European Union Regulations and Strategic Acts on Spatial Planning Systems in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Special Issue welcomes both comparative contributions and theoretically informed analyses of significant case studies. Contributions should go beyond identifying common characteristics of CEE planning systems and spatial development processes, highlighting also the important differences and diverse trajectories observable across the region.
Both the call for papers for the Special Issue and the final publication will be disseminated among researchers across all central and eastern European countries. One of the platforms facilitating this dissemination will be the newly established SPACEE association (Spatial Planning Association for Central and Eastern Europe), which will, among other activities, organise online seminars. The topics addressed in selected articles may also provide a basis for discussion during these seminars. The special issue will also be promoted through AESOP and other relevant associations, such as SPA-CE.Net and Planning Law Property Rights Association.
Submission Instructions
Planning Practice and Research publishes various categories of article. It is important to select the category accurately when submitting a paper to the special issue because we advise reviewers about the criteria for evaluation based on the category. Please indicate the category when submitting an abstract or draft paper to the guest editors. There is drop-down menu for selecting the article type when submitting to the PPR website.
- An original research article is based on empirical research, with a problem statement, research question, a critical review of the state of the art, a theoretical position, a methodology, methods and findings. Any type of research design is acceptable.
- A review article critically surveys the published research on a specific topic, and if relevant, related practice material. Reviews summarise the nature of the topic, the state of the art (or combinations thereof), explore competing positions and (usually) conclude on future research questions.
- A practice review is a short report on a topic of wider interest to the planning community. It may be a specific development project or sample of projects, a planning process (such as citizen engagement), a preliminary exploratory research study, a novel research method, or an education programme. There is no restriction on the subject. The report should be informative and critical, and explain how the case was investigated, although a substantial literature review is not needed.
- A comment can be used to raise awareness about an issue and promote discussion without the academic constraints of a research article. It will express a viewpoint or opinion that deserves attention, and is likely to be speculative, although grounded in evidence and knowledge of the topic.
The word limit for original research articles and review articles is 7.000 words excluding figures, tables, and the list of references. Practice review articles should be generally less than 5,000 words excluding figures, tables and references. Comments are limited to 2-4,000 words.
References should be cited in the Harvard style. Any specific style is acceptable, but each reference must include all the relevant information, including the publisher and place of publication. Citations in the text must match the list of references and vice-versa.
When submitting to the PPR submission website, select ‘special issue paper’ and choose the special issue title from the drop-down menu.
All submissions must be in English and should be carefully proofread for clarity and grammar.
Submission Process
Abstracts must be submitted to the guest editors by 1.12.2026. Please submit an abstract of up to 500 words with author details (names, affiliations, and email addresses) to macnowak@zut.edu.pl.
The Guest Editors will invite authors to submit draft papers based on the abstracts by 1.01.2027.
Authors must submit draft papers to the Guest Editor at macnowak@zut.edu.pl by 1.04.2027. It may not be possible to invite all authors of abstracts to ensure coherence of the special issue. Those authors who are not invited may submit to PPR in the normal way.
The Guest Editors may ask for revisions.
The Guest Editors will invite authors to submit full papers to the PPR submission website by 1.06.2027. The submission site is accessible from https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/cppr20.