Spatial governance and planning in Uruguay

Uruguay's decentralized spatial planning framework, established by the Land Use Planning and Sustainable Development Law of 2008, shows mixed success across its departments. A case study of Colonia del Sacramento reveals that while guidelines like the 2013 Departmental Guidelines and the 2018 Management Plan for the Historic Quarter effectively regulate urban growth and protect UNESCO-listed heritage, the prolonged delay in approving a Local Plan since 2011 has left land-use decisions vulnerable to private negotiations. This highlights the need for streamlined governance to balance heritage preservation with development pressures.

Casanova, R., & Saravia, M. (2025). Spatial governance and planning in Uruguay. Spatial Governance and Planning in Latin America, 188–202. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003389309-12