Spatial knowledge for regional governance: Toward an alternative map of Castilla y León

During the last two decades, the EU Commission has shown a major interest in establishing a more systematic dialogue between different institutional levels of government (Committee of the Regions 2009; EU Commission 2001). They have pointed out the inter-municipal scale as the most functional scale to take into account both regional and local conditions (cf. EU Commission 2001: 4). The inter-municipal dimension is flexible enough to interact with existing institutional patterns (both local and regional ones), transmit local governments’ experiments to associates, and involve public and private actors in solving sectoral problems as well as sharing financial and human resources. It could become one of the ways to introduce a new impetus to economic development in Europe and address the challenges of sustainable and inclusive growth (OECD 2015). Specifically, the inter-municipal scale allows planners and local governments to have: (i) critical mass and means for policy implementation and (ii) better knowledge of local needs and opportunities as well as a better management of resources (place-based approach). In this chapter, we present and discuss a case study based on the process of reform, in which we took part as academic consultants who specialise in spatial analysis and planning. Within the framework of a research agreement between the regional presidency and our institution, the Instituto Universitario de Urbanistica de la Universidad de Valladolid, we have developed and proposed an original point of view, based on our multifaceted background as researchers, consultants and practitioners. The first y León region. In the second section, the new institutional pattern based on inter-municipal associations is presented as developed for the Regional Council of Castilla y León. The third section concludes with a discussion of the initial outcomes of this process.