Participation

Participation is thereby conceived as a mutual process of "giving and taking". Citizens as much as planners will benefit from this process. For citizens and experts involved in this process arises the possibility to express their aims and wishes in an early stage of the planning process, to go along with the planning and decision-making processes and to influence them. This early starting involvement allows both groups to develop a profound understanding for the decisions taken. Furthermore, by identifying oppositions and conflicts at an early stage solutions or compromises can be found in time and arising obstacles can be eliminated.