A geographical study on the recognition to the Location Normalization Plan from local municipalities

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K01165
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 04020:Human geography-related
• Research Institution: Waseda University
• Principal Investigator: HASHIMOTO Kenji 早稲田大学, 教育・総合科学学術院, 教授 (10269607)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 立地適正化計画 / 地方都市 / 都市計画 / 郊外開発 / 空き不動産

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to examine responses to the problem of central city center hollowing out in local cities. To achieve this objective, I first statistically examined the measures of Location Normalization Plans prepared by local governments. Then, conducted a survey on the actual conditions related to the use of existing building stock in two cities. As a result, the following points were found. (1) While the Location Normalization Plan addresses the issue of utilization of existing stock, the majority of municipalities allow suburban development through ordinances. (2) In Nagasaki City, artists, antiquarian bookstores, and other businesses are clustered in old, small buildings in low-rent areas in the city center. In Isahaya City, fresh food markets and restaurants that meet the needs of the business area are being developed in large stores or on the sites where banks have retreated, without expanding the city center.

Free Research Field

人文地理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

コンパクトで高密度な都市空間の構築という政策目標を掲げつつ，実際は郊外開発を容認する自治体が多いという矛盾した現状は，ローカルな政治の文脈，すなわち農地転用に期待する離農者，開発可能な郊外の土地を求めるデベロッパー，そして税収と人口増に期待する自治体などの利害が，郊外開発で一致を見るためと想定できる．他方，少数派ではあるものの，無秩序な郊外開発に歯止めを設ける自治体も増えつつある．地方都市の体力低下が国家的な政策課題とされている今日，都市を「拡げない」という意思決定をした自治体の政策決定過程を検討し，かつその阻害要因を検討することは，地方都市の持続可能性に資する重要な示唆に結びつくと考える．