IN-PLAN / Success stories

Across Europe, cities and regions are facing the challenge of aligning spatial planning with ambitious climate and energy goals. The IN-PLAN project set out to support local authorities in turning these ambitions into practical planning processes and decisions. Through five pilot clusters in Sweden, Croatia, Ireland, Italy and Romania, municipalities tested the IN-PLAN Practice in real planning contexts, strengthening cooperation between departments and embedding energy and climate considerations into spatial planning.

In total, the methodology was applied in 15 Lighthouse and 30 Pilot municipalities, influencing 51 spatial planning instruments. These included 8 new plans, 21 updated plans and 22 plans to which the project contributed, ranging from General Urban Plans and Comprehensive Plans to Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs), Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) and Energy Plans. This wide range of planning instruments highlights both the flexibility of the IN-PLAN methodology and its potential to create lasting impact beyond the project’s duration.

The success stories below illustrate how municipalities translated integrated planning into concrete actions, from introducing renewable energy requirements in urban plans to testing new tools, strengthening governance processes, and exploring innovative solutions for sustainable local development.

Croatia – From Ambition to Binding Planning Measures

In Croatia, the pilot activities led by REGEA demonstrated how integrated planning can translate climate ambitions into concrete spatial planning measures. The City of Karlovac emerged as a strong success story: its draft General Urban Plan now includes provisions restricting the expansion of natural gas infrastructure and requiring new buildings to rely on renewable energy sources or district heating.

At the regional level, counties such as Zagreb County and Karlovac County received guidance on embedding energy and climate priorities into county spatial plans that influence local planning across their territories. Other municipalities, including Poreč, Labin, and Ivanić-Grad, engaged in awareness-raising and capacity-building activities that laid the groundwork for future integration of climate and energy objectives. Together, these pilots demonstrate the potential of IN-PLAN to transform long-term sustainability goals into concrete planning decisions.

Ireland – Innovative Solutions in Small Towns

The Irish pilot towns showcased how integrated planning approaches can drive innovative solutions at the local level. Six towns supported by the Tipperary Energy Agency tested the IN-PLAN methodology through targeted initiatives addressing challenges such as town-centre regeneration, mobility emissions, and energy transition.

For example, Thurles, Roscrea, and Carrick-on-Suir explored how repopulating historic town centres could reduce transport emissions while supporting energy-efficient development. In Nenagh, a Living Lab was established to test integrated planning solutions in practice, while Littleton updated its Energy Masterplan using IN-PLAN guidance. Capacity-building activities also helped local staff explore new topics such as district heating and energy densification. Overall, the pilots demonstrated that even small towns can play a significant role in climate action when supported with the right tools and knowledge.

Italy – Practical Tools Supporting Local Planning

In Italy, the pilot municipalities showed how practical tools and collaboration can support integrated spatial planning despite complex regulatory frameworks. Municipalities such as Ravenna, Cappella Maggiore, and San Vito al Tagliamento worked closely with experts to apply the IN-PLAN Checklist and coordinate different planning processes.

In Ravenna, the project contributed to the introduction of the “RIE” index in the General Urban Plan, promoting measures to reduce the environmental impact of urban development. In Cappella Maggiore, the checklist helped integrate climate and energy considerations into a new SECAP and Civil Protection Plan, while San Vito al Tagliamento used the methodology to coordinate multiple planning initiatives, including a new GUP and Urban Green Masterplan. These pilots demonstrate how structured tools and expert guidance can help municipalities embed sustainability into everyday planning processes.

Romania – Tailored Support for Diverse Urban Challenges

In Romania, the pilot cities benefited from tailored support designed to address their specific urban challenges while strengthening integrated planning processes.

Each municipality focused on a different priority: Abrud explored measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, Oradea examined district heating modernization and renewable integration, while Târgu Mureș worked on the concept of low-emission zones to improve urban mobility and air quality. Tulcea focused on developing green and blue zones linked to tourism and environmental strategies, and Râmnicu Vâlcea received guidance on integrating climate and energy considerations into its General Urban Plan. Through dedicated workshops, expert input from ALEA, and the application of the IN-PLAN Checklist, pilot cities strengthened cross-departmental collaboration and improved their ability to incorporate climate and energy objectives into spatial planning frameworks.

Sweden – Pilots Strengthening Integrated Energy Planning

In Sweden, the IN-PLAN Pilot municipalities used the project to strengthen the integration of energy considerations into spatial planning processes. Through a network coordinated by Energikontor Väst, the pilots participated in regular meetings and received targeted support tailored to their local needs.

Many municipalities are currently developing or revising municipal Energy Plans, and IN-PLAN helped them improve planning processes, build cross-departmental collaboration, and better align energy planning with spatial development strategies. Workshops and technical guidance enabled municipalities such as Lysekil and Herrljunga to gather input across departments and establish more structured planning workflows. As a result, six pilot municipalities strengthened their energy planning processes and improved their capacity to integrate energy considerations into future spatial planning cycles.