The unbearable rigidity of Master Urban Plans. The need for a change of model

Urban Planning in Spain is facing an important crisis caused by its regulatory nature, complexity of contents and intricacy of administrative procedures. As a consequence, any plan suffers from excessive drawing up period, reason why it is frequently contested and requires continuous modifications. This article analyzes measures adopted to solve these problems and puts foward a new scheme, affecting not only the plan model, but the whole urban planning system. The proposal aims to achieve more flexible and effective plans drawn up in appropriate periods of time.