Innovative Participatory Practices in Three Sub-Regional Spatial Plans in the Valencian Autonomous Region (Spain)

Between 2017 and 2023, three sub-regional spatial plans were developed for specific areas of the Valencian Autonomous Region: the Alicante–Elche Metropolitan Area, Vega Baja del Segura County, and the Central Valencian Counties. Their main aim was to develop an envisaged territorial model as a binding framework for municipal urban master plans. During the elaboration of these plans, a set of activities was developed to understand the main consensus among stakeholders. The main axes of the planning process were addressed during territorial working groups conducted with relevant stakeholders, including those focused on green infrastructure, settlement systems, and infrastructure systems. Participants were selected from the public administration, non-governmental organizations, the economic sector, and the university. Drawing on the outcomes of the participatory activities, various factors are analyzed, including the ratio between invited stakeholders and actual participants in the territorial workshops, the contributions made by participants in each main axis of the plan, the inputs provided according to stakeholder type, the nature of these contributions, and the degree of alignment between the inputs and the objectives of the PAT. The present study reveals how contextual factors can influence the orientation of the participatory process. At times, contingency may emerge as an opportunity to energize a governance process. Similarly, the participatory technique is validated for its potential to enrich the process, while also highlighting the absence of voices not aligned with spatial planning in the participatory settings.