The Public Interest in Planning: From Legitimation to Substantive Plan Evaluation

Abstract

The evolution of the public interest concept is traced from its classic origins to its practical implications today. Variations include aggregative, unitary, deontic and dialogic approaches, with applications ranging from utilitarian evaluation methods to deliberative and dialogic approaches in political, administrative and judicial arenas. The ontological debate on the public interest concludes that the problem defeating any substantive public interest application is complexity, leaving a dialogic public interest as a default legitimator of public planning. To meet the need for normative application of a substantive public interest concept in planning practice, a threshold criterion is proposed for use in appropriate cases of plan evaluation.