"Polycentric development is where urban centres are linked in networks and complement each other functionally, and co-operate together.

Through this process they are likely to generate a greater 'critical mass' than by operating in isolation, and so increase their overall competitiveness."

ESDP

 The aims of the VISP Project

• To improve the quality of life in North Sea urban areas
  
• To address urban areas in the neighbourhood of cities and raise the awareness and responsibility of all actors of spatial planning to adopt an integrated strategy
  
• To show good examples through pilot projects and present a package of advice, enhancing other cities around the North Sea area to adopt VISP-practices.
  
• To prove through transnational and local best practices in the North Sea area how Life Long Learning integrated in spatial planning can contribute to making Europe the most competitive and knowledge based society (in line with the Lisbon Declaration 2000)
• To increase trans-national interdependence
  
• To improve the overall access to innovative physical and virtual citizen friendly services
  
• To strengthen citizens participation in spatial planning

Duration of the project: 01/01/2004 - 06/30/2007