Social and economic conflicts between cultural landscapes and rural communities in the English and Polish systems

The designation of the concept of cultural landscape to a particular region is often taken in isolation of those who live and work there. Yet, at the same time, this designation has profound influences upon where they can live and the availability of suitable employment, whilst attracting into the area many who desire to ‘buy into’ that landscape. There is often an extreme contrast between housing that is affordable to the local community and housing that can be purchased by those who have access to the higher levels of finance. This frequently generates conflict between those who have historically lived in the area and those who have recently moved into the area attracted by the cultural landscape.This paper examines the contrasting situations, rules and regulations that exist in Poland and England, by taking as examples the designated cultural landscape of Wiśniowa together with the peri-urban landscape of Michałowice, both in Southern Poland, and the Lake District National Park of England. In so doing, it will compare and contrast the pragmatic, locally orientated spatial planning policies of Poland, with those of the regulated (although discretionary), top-down, planning policies of England and their implications upon the concept of spatial landscape management through land use controls.Finally, consequences of these two different approaches will be evaluated in terms of the social and economic development of the respective regions with particular emphasis placed upon provision, or lack of, policies leading to a reduction in conflict.

► Comparison between the cultural landscapes in Poland and England.
► Implications of current spatial planning policies upon cultural landscapes.
► Comparison of spatial planning policies in Poland and England.
► Policies relating to the provision of social and affordable housing.
► Evaluation of the policies of the respective regions through case studies.