The purpose of this study is to diagnose problems in the process of establishing and operating the neighbourhood plan, first established in 2018, and to seek directions for improving and reorganizing the neighbourhood plan in response to the expansion of the role of the 2040 Seoul Plan and autonomous districts.

As a result of a survey of the operational status of 25 autonomous districts, the current neighbourhood plan has problems such as insufficient role as an intermediate plan, extensive arrangement of plans, insufficient role and relationship establishment, and insufficient means of the neighbourhood plan.

The directions for improving and reorganizing the Seoul neighbourhood plan are as follow.

First, to strengthen the role of urban planning guidelines and intermediate -level plans at the autonomous district level, it is necessary to integrate and establish existing neighbourhood plan at 116 area units.

Second, to improve the vast amount of plan content presented in a list, it is necessary to integrate and lighten the common or overlapping plan content for each local living area at the autonomous district level.

Third, to improve the feasibility of the neighbourhood plan, it is necessary to simplify administrative procedures related to planning and deliberation and strengthen linkage with the budget.

Fourth, it is necessary for the Seoul Metropolitan Government to prepare and operate guidelines for establishing a neighbourhood plan in preparation for the reorganization of the next neighbourhood plan.

Finally, for a stable and effective plan, it is necessary to legalize the ‘Neighbourhood Plan’ and gradually expand the autonomous district’s authority to decide on urban planning. In particular, in large cities such as Seoul, it is necessary to introduce the ‘Autonomous District Urban Master Plan’ and operate it as an intermediate spatial plan that connects between urban master plan and urban management plan.