Interviews with experts in Switzerland, England and Ireland on planners' discretion and the pursuit of efficiency and equity objectives

This dataset comprises the interview guides and the corresponding verbatim transcripts of 16 in-depth, semi-structured expert interviews examining how discretion is understood and exercised in land-use planning, across both plan-making and development control. The three jurisdictions — England (5 interviews), Ireland (5) and Switzerland (6) — were selected for their contrasting approaches to pursuing efficiency and equity through planning regulation, as identified in the companion survey of planning experts (doi:10.16904/envidat.735). The interviews were conducted with planning practitioners and academics across two rounds, structured by a six-question first guide and an eight-question second guide. All interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and anonymised prior to deposit.