Ethics in Professional Urban Planning Practice: Evidence and Implications

Wilfred Ochieng OMOLLO^*1
* Corresponding author
¹ Kisii University, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Geography, Kisii, KENYA 
E-mail: wochieng@kisiiunivrsity.ac.ke; ORCID: 0000-0001-8994-5120
Pages: 1-16. DOI: 10.24193/JSSP.2026.1.01
Received: 27 December 2025
Received in revised form: 03 March 2026
Accepted for publication: 27 March 2026
Available online: 30 March 2026

Cite: Omollo W. O. (2026), Ethics in Professional Urban Planning Practice: Evidence and Implications. Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning, 17(1), 1-16. DOI: 10.24193/JSSP.2026.1.01

Abstract. Ethical issues are fundamental to professional urban planning, as planning decisions determine the distribution of resources, risks, and opportunities within urban environments. Despite increased scholarly attention, ethical concerns in planning remain fragmented and are frequently overlooked in practice. This study conducts a systematic literature review following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, analysing 47 peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2020 and 2025 across Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and supplementary citation tracking to examine how ethical challenges shape professional urban planning practice and spatial outcomes. The review systematically identifies recurring ethical challenges in professional urban planning. It assesses their influence on governance practices and spatial outcomes. Moreover, it further identifies six prevalent ethical challenges: ambiguous definitions of the public interest, persistent social and spatial injustice, limitations in participatory and procedural ethics, power imbalances and restricted professional autonomy, conflicts of interest undermining integrity, and inconsistent attention to environmental responsibility and climate justice. These challenges are embedded within governance systems rather than being solely attributable to individual shortcomings. Communicative planning theory demonstrates that inadequate participation can diminish legitimacy and decision quality. In contrast, justice-based theories indicate that planning practices may perpetuate inequality and displacement. Institutional perspectives further reveal that organisational and political constraints can impede planners’ capacity to act ethically. The review concludes that addressing these challenges requires integrating ethics into participation standards, governance structures, and professional safeguards. Institutionalising ethical reasoning within planning practice is essential for enhancing legitimacy, equity, and sustainable urban outcomes.

K e y w o r d s: planning ethics, professional urban planning, social justice and equity, public participation, climate justice