Specificity of Brownfield’s Revitalisation in Polish Legal Framework: Discussion On Current Legislature Problems Based On Case Study

Abstract

The issues addressed in the brownfields of the urban structure gained importance after 1989 and were connected with political and economic shifts in Eastern Europe and restructuring of the industry. As a consequence, the post-industrial areas emerged as a landmark on the maps of many cities in need of the revitalisation and reintegration with the urban structure. The lack of appropriate scope of urban policy in terms of post-industrial areas has repeatedly contributed to extension of the restructuring process of such areas in Poland. Revitalisation is the phenomenon, that responds to the above mentioned processes. The author defines revitalisation as a constant recycling process of the areas as well as introduction of new functions. This process allows economic, housing and societal dimensions’ rehabilitation of degraded land and the acquisition of new investment areas – not infrequently within the downtowns. The first records relating to urban regeneration in Poland stem from the government’s programme for the post-industrial areas. National programmes envisaged the realization of the sectorial policy by voivodships. As a result, only the Voivodeship of Silesia with considerable industrial heritage has undertaken the implementation of the conversion policy of post-industrial areas within the areas of Upper Silesian and Dabrowa Basin Metropolitan Area (Upper Silesian Industrial Region). The conducted research concerning the form and parameters of a model revitalisation process of post-industrial areas, has led to the author’s study of the conversion scheme of post-industrial areas. It corresponds to discussed models of profitability of the conversion of brownfields ABC (Ferber, Grimski, Millar, Nathanail 2006), ABCD (Frans, Gules, Prey 2008), as well as the model of recycling’s stages according to Glass-Geltman (2000). The presented model is based on the Polish experiences (Gasidło 2008, Huculak 2009, Lesser 2012, Klimek 2013) and also on in-depth case study of an area of the former Aluminum Works in Skawina, within Cracow’s Metropolian Area (Cracow’s Industrial Region). The analysis of a case study was based on the examination procedure which included four research tools: the urban inventory, surveys concerning conditions of conducting business activity (40% feedback), the direct observation during small – scale workshops and other outdoor workshops during preparation of Municipal Revitalisation Programme and three in-depth interviews with the representatives of the City Council. The Aluminium Works’ activity has led to significant pollution of the environment both in the city and in the whole region. The increased interest in the environmental issues in the 1970s led to the closure of the Aluminium Works in the next decade, opening the process of self-acting regeneration of this area. The regeneration process of the area has been active up to this day, however, it does not relate to the improvement of conditions of conducting economic activity, quality of the environment and spatial order. The representability of this case study is based on clear indication of the effects of the lack of legislation in the subject matter, which leads to the blockade of the complex revitalisation process and functioning of such an area. Moreover, the lack of implementation of sectoral policy may result in disintegration of economic structure despite permanent vertical and horizontal agreements between entrepreneurs.