The Compact Cities Partnership meets in Leiden to advance a shared vision for urban (compact) development
Hosted by the Municipality of Leiden (NL), one of the Partnership coordinators alongside the West Regional Development Agency in Romania, the event took place at PLNT Leiden and provided a dynamic setting for both strategic discussions and peer exchange. Over the course of two days, participants focused on clarifying thematic priorities, structuring the work of the Partnership’s working groups, and defining the next steps toward a shared roadmap.
Sharing insights and setting the scene
The meeting opened with welcoming remarks from Peter Heijkoop, Mayor of Leiden, and Erik van Seggelen, Director of Urban Development, who highlighted the importance of compact development models in addressing today’s urban challenges, from housing shortages to land scarcity.
The first day featured a series of knowledge and inspirational sessions, setting the foundation for the Partnership’s work.
Contributions explored key dimensions of compact city development, including spatial planning mechanisms and regulatory frameworks. Experts from the Dutch Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning and Vereniging Delta Metropool provided insights into how policy and planning tools can support more efficient land use and balanced urban growth.
Additional perspectives focused on affordable housing, with an emphasis on accessibility and inclusiveness within compact urban forms, reinforcing the social dimension of the Partnership’s agenda.
The Inspirational Sessions also featured presentations about regional cooperation through green and blue infrastructure, on the “City of Proximity” concept, from Perspective Brussels, and an overview of the future vision for the Panorama Park Leiden.
The meeting also included a study visit to Singelpark, a 6.5-kilometre-long urban park, created as a citizen-led initiative in Leiden. Designed as a continuous loop, the park has no beginning or end, symbolically welcoming all residents and visitors.
The development and maintenance of Singelpark are the result of a strong collaboration between Stichting Vrienden van het Singelpark, the municipality of Leiden, local residents, and various city organisations. Together, they have transformed it into one of the longest and most dynamic urban parks in the Netherlands, ensuring it remains an inclusive and vibrant space for everyone.
Working Sessions
A central component of the meeting was the series of working group sessions, which allowed partners to co-develop the thematic structure of the Partnership and identify key thematic areas.
Discussions focused on a broad yet interconnected set of topics that will define the Compact Cities Partnership’s work, including spatial planning and land management, functional urban areas, and land value capture instruments. Participants also explored innovative indicators and metrics to better assess compactness, alongside issues related to social housing, accessibility, and regeneration.
Another key area of focus was the identification of fiscal and funding instruments that could incentivise compact development, as well as the role of integrated planning approaches in shaping more efficient and inclusive urban forms.
These sessions played a crucial role in aligning perspectives, identifying gaps, and outlining potential outputs for each working groups. They also provided the first opportunity to consolidate the working groups, establish leadership structures, and build a shared understanding of priorities and responsibilities moving forward.
Building momentum and defining next steps
The second day continued with further working sessions aimed at refining actions, identifying needs, and outlining concrete next steps for each thematic area.
Inspirational inputs on concepts such as the “City of Proximity” and regional green and blue infrastructure added further depth to the discussions, highlighting the importance of integrated, multi-scalar approaches to compact development.
The meeting concluded with a wrap-up session where partners reflected on key outcomes and agreed on the way forward. A strong emphasis was placed on developing the Orientation Paper as a foundational step, ensuring that future actions are grounded in a clear, shared vision.