An early definition of spatial planning comes from the European Regional/Spatial Planning Charter (often called the 'Torremolinos Charter'), adopted in 1983 by the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT): "Regional/spatial planning gives geographical expression to the economic, social, cultural and ecological policies of society.
Jedna od najranijih defincija nalazi se u Europskoj povelji o regionalnom/prostornom planiranju (često nazivanoj 'Torremolinoska povelja') koju je 1983. prihvatila Europska konferencija ministara nadležnih za prostorno planiranje (CEMAT): "Regionalno/prostorno planiranje je geografski izraz ekonomske, socijalne, kulturne i ekološke politike društva.