Radu-Matei Cocheci

Romania’s suburbanization patterns resemble those of other post-socialist countries, driven by privatization, economic deregulation prioritizing private interests and de-centralization of urban planning responsibilities to local authorities. This has fostered low-density housing areas around major cities, often lacking basic infrastructure yet supported by underfunded local public authorities aiming to increase budgetary revenue. The research hypothesizes that Romania’s planning system is now in a state of conflict due to contradictions between the national planning discourse, as codified in law, and local planning cultures that shape planning practices. The project has two objectives. First, it examines the evolution of law and public policies influencing suburbanization since 1990, in order to identify paradoxes—instances where policies unintentionally produce conflicting outcomes. Second, it investigates local planning cultures, understood as the informal norms and values guiding municipal planning decisions. This involves an in-depth case study of the Bucharest-Ilfov region, exploring how wider societal values influence local planning practices in ways that contradict the national planning discourse. Ultimately, this research aims to better understand the divide between national planning objectives and actual planning practice in a post-socialist context. It provides new insights into why suburban areas with inadequate public services and infrastructure remain desirable to buyers, planners, and local authorities alike.