Search

Local governments are now facing a need for societal transition to meet the challenges of climate change and lack of social cohesion. Institutional innovation in urban development is needed, especially in terms of more involving processes to achieve the UN sustainable development goals. In this article we ask how institutional innovation can ensure more involving urban transformations. We also discuss what the conditions are for such institutional innovations to increase the transformative capacity of cities. The discussion departs from the collaborative public sector innovation literature, and the collaborative planning literature, and attempts to bridge these in analyzing the cases. The analysis is based upon two qualitative case studies of new institutional practices in urban development projects – in Roskilde (Denmark) and in Enschede (the Netherlands). Both projects were a response to the local governments' subjection to a critical juncture, or crisis. Findings suggest that long-term and permanent organizational changes can be achieved when local governments implement institutional innovations to remedy the critical juncture. Innovation can ensure more involving urban transformations through strategic vision building in the development process • A key factor is that the involvement represents real influence, not only symbolic involvement • Involvement leads to better ownership of the place and the processes, through egalitarian relationships when participating • Urban re-build-projects depend on joint efforts between municipal, private, and civil society actors • Institutional innovation can result in permanent organizational changes and changes of attitudes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]