Integrated urban planning must be understood in a broad sense, encompassing economic, environmental and social aspects. Providing sufficient time and resources for urban planning is a prerequisite for participatory and integrated urban planning. The multidisciplinary nature of urban design results in several interconnections.
Horizontal integration. Partnerships bring together local actors who are involved in the policy challenge: residents, community organisations, local authorities and local businesses.
Territorial integration. Partnerships in functional urban areas between neighbouring municipalities, allowing for cooperation in functional urban areas. It is crucial to avoid the negative effects of competition between local authorities.
Vertical integration between local, regional and national authorities, allowing for multi-level governance. It means sharing responsibilities between different levels of government. Cities can not achieve the most important goals without regional and national framework.