Polityka przestrzenna i kierunek zmian wybranych małych miast
Spatial policy and direction of change of selected small towns

Summary/Abstract: The picture of Polish space is predominantly influenced by local planning regulations. Nevertheless, in the era of market freedom, exuberance of investment processes and overinterpretation of property rights, local spatial policy faces a great challenge. It must reconcile economic growth with rationality of planning activities. It is very difficult in a situation when there is freedom of construction associated with the right to build freely on your own land. It is simply impossible to stick to basic priorities of spatial planning such as spatial order and sustainable development as every piece of space becomes a potential investment area. Practice shows that contemporary spatial planning diverges from the assumptions of sustainable development and rational shaping of spatial structures. It is very often synonymous with finally approving investment areas and making new building land available. This leads to excessive spatial urbanization fostered by local government units also in small towns. The process of earmarking considerably large areas for development is under way even though it has no reflection in actual investment needs. It results in chaotic parcellation and expansion of urbanized areas. Nowadays spatial planning is dominated by the freedom of construction principle, which takes into consideration the wishes of the potential investor. There is no tradition of thrifty management of space, which is a particularly precious and limited asset serving both present and future generations.

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