Given the fundamental change in the framework conditions and the public sector's limited resources for action it is appropriate to examine the issue of safeguarding equivalent living conditions and to take a position on this from the perspective of spatial science and spatial planning. The ARL - Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association sees itself as a forum in which to drive forward dialogue with all stakeholders from science, planning practice, policymakers and society. In this ARL position paper 'Rethinking the provision of public services and equivalent living conditions - perspectives and fields of action' the authors present starting points for discussion and call for a constructive and open review of new approaches to solutions and thinking without prior assumptions.

This position paper was compiled by the members of the Working Group on "Multilocal living and spatial development" at the Academy for Territorial Development (ARL). In this position paper, the "Multilocal living and spatial development" Working Group at the Academy for Territorial Development (ARL) discusses a current social phenomenon that has spatial implications at various levels: multilocal living arrangements, i.e. the practice of living alternately at different locations. Increasing numbers of people live at more than one location and establish spaces for their everyday activities at each location (residential multilocality).

In NRW haben sowohl die Regionalplanung als auch integrierte Ansätze der Regionalentwicklung, wie z.B. die REGIONALE NRW, eine lange Tradition. Das bisherige Nebeneinander soll im Sinne eines besseren Zusammenwirkens von Regionalplanung und Regionalentwicklung mit dem Ziel eines "guten Raumzustandes" überwunden werden. Elemente einer neuen Praxis könnten etwa ein "Brückendokument" (z.B. Raumbild) zur Vermittlung zwischen Regionalplanung und -entwicklung sowie eine eigenständig handlungsfähige organisatorische Verankerung des Prozessmanagements sein. Unabdingbar dafür sind eine entsprechende politische Legitimation und ein Wille zur regionalen Zusammenarbeit.