From Culture of the Plan to the Culture of Planning: The Relevance of the Strategic Process in the Development of Spatial Plans. The Experience of the Municipal Master Plan for Almada

Abstract

The paper discusses the limitations of functionalist planning in today’s volatile socio-economic context, where rigid spatial planning standards often become obsolete. Traditional rationalist paradigms are increasingly challenged by the emergence of informal practices and the need for flexible governance models. The authors argue for incorporating strategic thinking into land management tools to enhance planning quality and efficiency. Using the revision process of the Municipal Master Plan for Almada (Portugal) as a case study, the paper outlines how political principles, multi-level planning instruments, diagnostics, and sectorial strategies were synthesised into strategic lines and objectives. This approach reframes planning as an instrument for achieving sustainable local development rather than as an end in itself.