Ideological planning rationales regarding social inclusion, diversity, and citizen participation are often neglected and hegemonically overshadowed by planning rationales embedded in neoliberal and environmentalist ideologies. The reasons hereto are attributed to an institutionalized growth paradigm and increasing environmental concerns regarding climate change. As Randers Municipality is struggling to maintain its position as the sixth largest municipality in Denmark as well as dealing with climate issues such as storm surges and centennial events through rising sea levels in the river of Randers, this research will, through a two-part analysis, investigate to what extent ideological planning rationales from the three currently prevalent ideologies, i.e., neoliberalism, environmentalism, and participatory democracy, are present in the strategic planning of Randers Municipality and, subsequently, in the urban development project 'the River Town of Randers'.

This research is positioned within critical realism, and the background for the preparation of the analyses is the establishment of a theoretical framework that contributes with knowledge regarding how ideological planning rationales are expressed in strategic planning documents as well as an analytical framework that guides the analyses. This research is concluded with a number of recommendations on how the River Town of Randers can be planned and developed in a socially inclusive manner.