Urban planning and rail transport risks: Coping with deadlocks in Dutch urban development projects

Due to recent disasters and near misses, society has become more aware of the risks involved in the production, storage and transport of hazardous materials. In the Netherlands, this has led to more attention for the institutionalisation of risk management approaches in order to prevent disasters and improve the safety of people in areas adjacent to risky activities. However, this institutionalisation of risk management concerning rail transport of hazardous materials has led to a number of problems for urban planning and even deadlocks in decision making. In order to unlock these situations, an unfreezing and reframing of decision making is necessary. This article explores the potential impact of an adapted institutional view on decision making, based on empirical research.

► Institutionalisation of risk management has led to deadlocks in decision making.
► We examine the influence of an adapted institutional framework on decision making.
► We performed two gaming simulations in real world cases experiencing a deadlock.
► The adapted framework led to a different outcome of decision making.
► Respondents involved agreed the new outcome was an improvement compared to practice.