The IN-PLAN Practice aims to provide municipalities, regions, and other public authorities with a comprehensive guidebook for integrating climate adaptation, mobility, and energy planning into spatial planning processes. It fosters institutionalised collaboration across different departments and stakeholders at all levels.

As such, the practice is meant to:

• give guidance on how to utilise and integrate spatial plans to streamline sectoral planning instruments, documents, and plans;
• outline key aspects and milestones to consider during the spatial planning process;
• recommend practical tools, software, and methods conducting basic research, communication, and other essential planning tasks;
• identify which stakeholders should be involved both organisationally and content-wise;
• provide useful good practice examples.

The IN-PLAN Practice is designed to empower local and regional governments to develop, implement, and monitor ambitious integrated spatial plans with climate neutrality targets. It provides guidance on involving key actors from the local and regional levels throughout the planning process, from inception to implementation and monitoring, fostering stakeholder engagement and participatory governance concepts.

Structured alongside the outline of a general spatial planning process, the IN-PLAN Practice and its recommendations on climate change adaptation, sustainable mobility, and renewable energy are easily applicable at any stage of an ongoing spatial planning process. The practice offers step-by-step recommendations and guidance for each phase, detailing specific actions and timelines. Additionally, it lists practical best practices from across Europe and offers a toolbox of technical and soft skill tools, instruments, and methods. Rather than developing new tools, the Practice contextualises existing ones within the planning process.

Overall, the IN-PLAN Practice aims to depict an ideal integrated spatial planning process, acknowledging that such processes are often iterative rather than linear, incorporating feedback loops. The practice is particularly valuable during both complete and partial overhauls of spatial plans, strategies, or other planning documents, offering practical insights and guidance to ensure successful integration of key aspects.