Over the last hundred years, with the separation of port and city, the economic dimension of the port has come to the front, and the spatial, cultural and governance links between port and city that facilitated have weakened. To align economic growth ambitions to broader base social benefits. We argue that shared values can help resolve spatial development questions generated by competing interests of a diverse group of actors, including port authorities, municipalities, corporations, cultural institutions, and citizens. To demonstrate the opportunities and need for such an approach, we have collaborated with Delft Design for Values (DDFV) and done a pilot value deliberation on the topic 1 . Using an online platform we have been able to use the advantages of the digital society to bring together key players from multiple European port cities.