Evaluating the Legislative Quality of Spatial Plans – The Case of Danish Local Plans with Climate Adaptation Content

This article addresses an observed gap in the plan quality evaluation literature and methodology by developing additional evaluation criteria to reflect the legislative quality of plans. The analysis of climate adaptation content in 211 Danish legally binding local plans adopted between 2000 and 2020 shows that incoherence between functional elements (purpose, content, context, and results) decreases the potential of the plans to work. Plans especially suffer from legal flaws, as plan provisions fail to meet requirements of the legal framework. The article discusses ways to interpret and address these identified barriers to achieving climate adaptation goals.