Delays in planning and decision-making in infrastructure planning - an investigation of the causes using qualitative comparative analysis and case studies

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Karsten Zimmermann
• Subject Area: City Planning, Spatial Planning, Transportation and Infrastructure Planning, Landscape Planning
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 571470647

Delays in infrastructure planning have become an everyday topic in science, politics and planning practice. However, there is a lack of empirical research on the reasons for delays in planning and approval procedures. This project aims to identify the reasons for delays in light rail projects in German metropolitan areas, focusing on both the planning approval process and the overall project development. The project will proceed in three steps: First, a complete survey of light rail projects in German metropolitan areas in the period 2000 to 2024 will be conducted. This is followed by a qualitative comparative analysis of 30 planning approval procedures. The final step of the empirical investigation is a case study analysis using process tracing in four case studies. This final step is not limited to the formal planning approval procedure, but also includes processes of planning and political coordination for the S-Bahn project prior to the formal planning approval procedure. It is expected that the reasons for delays in the prior period to the planning approval procedure will outweigh the procedure itself.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants