ABSTRACT
The German government has set a land thrift goal of reducing the conversion of land to land for building and infrastructure to 30 hectares per day nationwide by 2020. In Germany, regional planning is a well-established instrument. Regional planning is a mandatory task for all 16 German states due to the federal Spatial Planning Act. The scope of regional planning in Germany goes beyond defining UGB. Regional planning in Germany can be best compared to the Portland Regional Framework Plan. Regional planning in Germany, being comprehensive in nature, normally does not concentrate on one task the way that Metro seems to concentrate on UGB. Regional planning in Germany is part of an administrative tradition in the field of spatial and land use planning that insulates it against interference by the legislature, at least to some extent. Urban growth can be limited by regional planning.
