Using the weighted urban proliferation (WUP) approach to measure the effects of planning strategies on urban sprawl in Poland

Bibliographic Data

ID7514130
AuthorsRita Łabuz (0000-0002-2966-5925, Cracow University of Technology), Rafał Blazy (0000-0002-0466-8855, Cracow University of Technology), Daniel Baldwin He (0000-0003-2239-236X, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume173
Pages106812
Publication date2026-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCities (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0264-2751 • E-ISSN: 1873-6084
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.cities.2026.106812
OpenAlexW7131846944
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited79

Urban sprawl is one of the major challenges facing urbanizing societies. This study quantifies the extent of urban sprawl in southern Poland's four most populous metropolitan areas, encompassing 164 municipalities, and assesses the effectiveness of spatial planning strategies aimed at limiting sprawl. The first phase of the research establishes comparative parameters for evaluating sprawl across these urban regions. To measure it, we apply the weighted urban proliferation (WUP) method, which comprises three indicators: the proportion of built-up land, the degree of spatial dispersion, and land consumption per capita. The most dispersed metropolitan areas are Rzeszów and Upper Silesia-Zagłębiowska and the most compact are Kraków and Wrocław. In the second phase, we analyze sprawl at the municipal level and examine how specific planning instruments—namely local spatial development plans (MPZPs) and decisions on land development and management conditions (WZs)—influence its occurrence. We correlate the WUP metrics for each municipality with the percentage of land covered by MPZPs in 2018 and the total number of WZs issued from 2009 to 2018. The analysis reveals diverse sprawl patterns, shaped by differing historical contexts, planning coverage (MPZPs), and intensity of WZ decisions. Notably, the number of WZs per square kilometer appears to exert a stronger impact on sprawl dynamics than the mere extent of MPZP coverage. Our findings indicate only weak to moderate correlations between the presence of MPZPs and sprawling development, suggesting the need for more targeted and effective anti-sprawl planning policies. This study highlights the critical role of well-designed spatial management tools for coping with urban expansion. • Weighted urban proliferation (WUP), integrating land use, dispersion, and population density, is applied in Poland. • The most dispersed metro areas are Rzeszów and Upper Silesia-Zagłębiowska and the most compact are Kraków and Wrocław. • Certain regions are more dispersed due to historical legacies, weak planning, and high intensity of land development. • Due to the low effectiveness of local spatial development plans, new tools should be used to limit urban sprawl. • The WUP method enables new empirical evidence of planning effectiveness in Polish cities

Green infrastructure · Land use · Land-use planning · Limiting · Metropolitan area · Subdivision · Urban planning · Urban sprawl · Impact of Light on Environment and Health · Land Use and Ecosystem Services · Urbanization and City Planning

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