New town planning instruments: participation or governance? The case of Brussels through the 'Botanique structure plan'

This paper presents an analysis of some of the socio-political stakes riding on the recent implementation of a 'structure plan' (or schéma directeur) for the 'Botanique' area in Brussels. The aim is to build a bridge between the discussions about the new modes of governance and the development of participatory or deliberative democracy, on the one hand, and an empirical study of a public policy that borrows from these categories, on the other hand. The innovative practices that characterise the 'structure plan' are often labelled 'participatory'. In this text, we intend to determine to what extent they participate more in a new type of urban governance without truly helping to enhance the people's involvement.