Urban densification through Flexibility

Abstract

In response to rising urban growth and housing demand, cities such as Eindhoven are under increasing pressure to densify within their current urban boundaries. High-rise development has come up as a crucial strategy, but its implementation is influenced not just by technical planning tools, but also by institutional capacity to change. This thesis investigates how procedural flexibility in urban governance can enable or constrain the implementation of high-rise developments in the city centre of Eindhoven. The study uses a qualitative study approach, combining policy documents and semi-structured interviews with municipal professionals, to analyse flexibility as a governance practice rather than a formal policy reform. The study operationalises flexibility across four critical dimensions: the intake phase, interdepartmental coordination, project-specific interpretation, and individual dependence. These dimensions illustrate how planning actors navigate complex, often conflicting, spatial goals under pressure. While procedural flexibility enables for responsive and adaptable decision-making, the findings show its limitations, especially in term of consistency, equity, and long-term vision. The study contributes to a better understanding of flexibility in urban government and provides guidance for cities aiming to balance adaptability with planning accountability.