ABSTRACT
This chapter reflects on how planning technologies might both be reassessed and used in practice; rather than seeing them as one solution or as a single entity, they should be seen within an ecosystem of planning technologies that facilitate different levels and types of democratic engagement. The survey of planners' requirements for technologies contributes relevant findings to research. Whilst opportunities that increased participation from citizens for using digital technologies were identified by planners, when specific technologies were questioned, planners preferred a one-way dissemination of information, from themselves to the public. Open participatory digital planning by default may also, of course, become increasingly an interest of business communities too. This is even more reason to ensure that the elected local state facilitates and legitimises citizen participatory planning through innovative digital tools that are of direct interest and relevance to planning and place-based aspirations. The chapter ends by offering some conceptual and practical ideas for further research and planning transformation.
