Large-scale Urban Regeneration Research Articles

Strategies for Co-Creation and Co-Governance in Urban Contexts: Building Trust in Local Communities with Limited Social Structures

Over the last few years, community empowerment has become a central focus when discussing the sustainability of large-scale urban regeneration processes, especially those related to the implementation of nature-based solutions. In this article, the authors describe the experience of the CLEVER Cities project in the city of London, by looking at the dynamics of the early stages of co-creation and the implications on co-governance, motivation and policy. Particular attention is given to the importance of carefully evaluating the project context to guide where emphasis is given on the use of specific co-creation strategies such as building trust, raising awareness or networking. In this case, a set of strategies emerge that are a response to several factors but are strongly influenced by the backdrop of limited social structuring encountered in South Thamesmead, South London. The methods are derived based on a qualitative and looped observation approach over three phases applied to three urban living labs in the project area. Finally, to structure the results, an iterative co-production of knowledge approach is used to cluster the strategies into ten more synthetic recommendations based on collaborative governance, communication and capacity building, as well as incentives and motivation. Further, guidance is given by highlighting priorities to inform policy and place-based planning actions.

Urban suburbia: Gentrification and spatial inequality in workers' communities in Tokyo

Spatial inequality in Asian megacities has recently accelerated against the formation of a hybrid development-state-neoliberalism policy and the existing unique characteristics of the built environment, i.e., the coexistence of and conflicts between planned and self-shaped urban areas. This study attempts to examine the process of gentrification and spatial inequality in urban areas in Tokyo, where large-scale urban regeneration projects were promoted through the relaxation of urban planning regulations under neoliberal urban policies. First, we surveyed how the transformation of urban development policies promoted gentrification in Tokyo. Second, we conducted a statistical analysis of the unique characteristics of spatial inequality in Tokyo. Finally, we conducted a detailed case study of the gentrification process in a workers' community where large-scale urban redevelopment projects had been implemented. We conclude that spatial inequality has widened in Tokyo because of government-led gentrification since the 2000s. Particularly, gentrification rapidly increased in the eastern areas of Tokyo, developed historically as workers' communities, and spatial inequality at the local level widened. Furthermore, local characteristics were rapidly transformed by the loss of urban industries. Instead, with government-led urban regeneration, a new urban nexus so called ‘urban suburbia’ comprising elements such as high-quality condominiums, shopping malls, and franchise shops emerged.

Capital’s welfare dependency: Market failure, stalled regeneration and state subsidy in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Comparing case studies of long-term, large-scale urban regeneration projects in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland, this paper brings together two addendums to the rent gap model in the shape of the ‘reputational gap’ and the ‘state subsidy gap’. These neologisms are mobilised to clarify the risk-laden centrality of the state’s role in both the formation and potential closure of rent gaps in large-scale areas of disinvestment and devalorisation. Whilst such projects often appear as expressions of capital’s state-mediated extractive power over the built environment, we consider them as examples of capitalist failure or fragility – for even with striking levels of public subsidy to address ‘market failure’ the land and property market has not been reinvigorated according to plan. This highlights the need, we argue, for further critical scrutiny of failed or stalled urban regeneration projects as a means of foregrounding the instability, rather than the omnipotence, of contemporary urban capitalism.

Sorting in an urban housing market—is there a response to demographic change?

Using Dortmund as a case study we analyse whether rents and housing prices responded to local demographic change in a German city between 2007 and 2016. In a two-step analysis based on a spatial autoregressive hedonic pricing model and a discrete choice model of housing location we find that during the study period as a whole, higher local mortality induced a negative effect on apartment prices and rents. Yet, the neighbourhood effects of local ageing vary across sub-city districts. Most prominently, the study period was characterised by a strong and rising desire to purchase or rent housing in the vicinity of the city centre. Furthermore, prices for owner-occupied apartments and houses increased rapidly in the more well-off southern part of the city and particularly in a previously declining community, where a large-scale urban regeneration and environmental upgrading project has been implemented since 2011. The characteristics of households likely to move to this neighbourhood switched from low to high income.

The Future of Post-Industrial Landscapes in East Lisbon: The Braço de Prata Neighbourhood

East Lisbon is being exposed to large-scale urban regeneration processes, where luxury residential projects and mixed-use spatial developments are already underway. Thus, it is a living laboratory for “smart”, “creative” and “green” projects, as well as related urban public space interventions. Braço de Prata is an urban space overlooked by developers, being surrounded by obsolete industrial buildings. Concerning the recent interest in international investments in brownfield regeneration and greenfield developments, it represents an attractive urban terrain as a post-industrial working-class neighbourhood, where “smart” and “green” suggest transforming space so that both new and old residents can live and work together and share public space regardless of analysis on their environmental recognitions. The aim of this paper is to present an empirical evaluation model that examines the possible impacts of environmental negligence through the reorganisation of the physical and social fabric. The analyses focus on dwellers’ moral understanding of their changing environment as site-specific domains to address the unique conditions that affect transiently defined presumptions about the collective needs. Taking an evaluative approach in the Braço de Prata case, this paper demonstrates the specific socio-ecological implications of urban inequality in post-industrial neighbourhoods that could be threatened by new decisions, both through urban planning approaches and instruments.

A Case Study Driven Integrated Methodology to Support Sustainable Urban Regeneration Planning and Management

Urban regeneration involves the integrated redevelopment of urban deprived areas, covering physical, socio-economic and environmental aspects of cities, and it is concerned with interventions on early/inner-ring suburbs and historic centers, which are under pressure from population growth and sustainable development policies. The planning and management of urban regeneration interventions usually depend on the city and regional context. Although these interventions involve multiple issues and stakeholders, common characteristics can be identified, thus appealing for a holistic vision and coordination among the various dimensions of the problem. Based on the above context, and on the experience from a large-scale urban regeneration project, this article introduces an integrated methodology to support the planning and management of urban regeneration interventions. The methodology proposes a flexible baseline that can be adapted to urban regeneration projects of different contexts and dimensions, and defines steps, the corresponding stakeholders, and the teams’ engagement, in an integrated framework to plan and oversee urban regeneration actions towards more sustainable and resilient interventions.

Hybrid evaluation approaches for urban regeneration processes of landfills and industrial sites: the case of the Kwun Tong area in Hong Kong

Large-scale urban regeneration is usually characterized by a complex decision environment in which several different stakeholders are expected to agree on a shared strategy. Contrasting interests, different values and diverse objectives make the issue particularly appropriate to be inquired throughout multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). This paper elects the Asian context as a case study to apply a multi-methodological evaluation approach aimed at defining a regeneration strategy with respect to actors’ preferences. The Kwun Tong area (earlier industrial site in Hong Kong) represents the focus of the research where a combination of the following techniques has been used: context investigation, stakeholders analysis, scenario building, social multicriteria analysis through the Novel Approach to Imprecise Assessment and Decision Environments (NAIADE) method and Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT). The aim is to demonstrate the complex role played by evaluation activities within a design process aimed at finding balanced regeneration scenarios with respect to the needs of most of the parties involved.

The impact of urban regeneration programmes on health and health-related behaviour: Evaluation of the Dutch District Approach 6.5 years from the start.

BackgroundLarge-scale regeneration programmes to improve the personal conditions and living circumstances in deprived areas may affect health and the lifestyle of the residents. Previous evaluations concluded that a large-scale urban regeneration programme in the Netherlands had some positive effects within 3.5 years. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects at the longer run.MethodsWith a quasi-experimental research design we assessed changes in the prevalence of general health, mental health, physical activity, overweight, obesity, and smoking between the pre-intervention (2003–04 –mid 2008) and intervention period (mid 2008–2013–14) in 40 deprived target districts and comparably deprived control districts. We used the Difference-in-Difference (DiD) to assess programme impact. Additionally, we stratified analyses by sex and by the intensity of the regeneration programme.ResultsChanges in health and health related behaviours from pre-intervention to the intervention period were about equally large in the target districts as in control districts. DiD impact estimates were inconsistent and not statistically significant. Sex differences in DiD estimates were not consistent or significant. Furthermore, DiD impact estimates were not consistently larger in target districts with more intensive intervention programmes.ConclusionWe found no evidence that this Dutch urban regeneration programme had an impact in the longer run on self-reported health and related behaviour at the area level.

A study on the effects of Urban Regeneration Project by private sector on their neighboring areas - A case study on the neighboring districts of Tokyo MIDTOWN, Japan -

Urban regeneration projects have played a major role in not only improving the physical environment but also recreating downtown areas with more vigor and diversity in terms of socioeconomic aspects. This shows us that urban regeneration projects should be considered as a concept that embraces urban renewal, urban revitalization, and urban reform. Considering recently increasing interest in urban regeneration projects, it is necessary to develop a comprehensive way of projecting the possible future changes in the target site and its neighboring areas so that urban regeneration projects can be implemented in a desirable way. From this perspective, this study focuses on producing the basic reference data that allows planners to estimate changes in the target site and its neighboring areas before large-scale urban regeneration projects are implemented. To achieve this goal, this study analyzes various changes in characteristics of the Midtown district and its neighboring areas in Tokyo, Japan before and after the urban regeneration project occurs.

Shock-proof cities? The impact of and responses to the recent financial and economic crisis in older industrial cities

The impact of the recent financial and economic crisis on cities and regions in Europe has been profound. This contribution examines to what extent the crisis has affected the ongoing recovery process in older industrial cities struggling with the consequences of economic restructuring and urban decline. Drawing on a research project, it uses findings from three large German cities (Bremen, Bochum and Leipzig). The authors argue that these cities have been hard hit by the economic downturn, adding a further layer to existing problems. A particular focus is put on whether these cities are still vulnerable or whether they have become more resilient as a result of their longstanding experience with decline, and on whether they have been able to continue their recovery strategies or whether they have had to refocus. Though the overall picture is complex, the findings suggest that the cities have had, at least partially, to reorient their respective recovery strategies. Against a background of limited resources, large-scale urban regeneration initiatives have for the most part been discontinued. Other strategies, such as in the field of economic development or neighbourhood renewal, have been continued, albeit on a smaller scale. Though funding has been severely hit by budget cuts, more recent measures, including those in the areas of sustainability or climate change, suggest a general change in thinking. It appears that the three cities have been able to build up substantial expertise, owing to their longstanding experience in dealing with urban decline, providing them with some resilience. Nevertheless, remaining structural weaknesses and financial constraints continue to be major challenges.

A Health and Social Legacy for East London: Narratives of ‘Problem’ and ‘Solution’ around London 2012

Policies and programmes that tackle neighbourhood deprivation have long been a feature of urban policy in the UK and elsewhere. Large-scale urban regeneration and neighbourhood renewal programmes have been deployed as the primary vehicle to improve the health and life chances of residents of deprived neighbourhoods. Often these areas have a long history of efforts at regeneration and redevelopment and, over time, have become labelled as ‘problem areas’ in need of constant intervention. The bid for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games was successful partly due to its promise to deliver a lasting health and social legacy by using the Games as a driver of regeneration in East London. Despite limited evidence for the effectiveness of such an approach, regeneration schemes tied to sporting events have emerged as popular strategies through which cities strive to enhance their urban fabric. Running through the core of the London 2012 bid was a discourse of East London as a ‘problem’ in need of a regeneration ‘solution’ that the Olympics uniquely could deliver. As a result, a wider narrative of East London was generated: as unhealthy; mired in poverty; desperate for jobs; with an inadequate and outdated built environment. The Olympic legacy was thus positioned as a unique once-in-a-lifetime solution ‘accelerating’ regeneration in East London, and delivering substantive change that either might not have happened, or would otherwise have taken decades. Through documentary analysis of published Government policy documents for the period 2002-2011, we demonstrate how the ‘problem’ of East London was used as political justification for London 2012. We argue that the Olympic legacy was deliberately positioned in neoliberal terms in order to justify substantial economic investment by the UK government and suit the needs of the International Olympic Committee. Finally, whilst acknowledging that regeneration may indeed result, we also speculate on the potential legacy and possible challenges for the people in East London left by this neoliberal and entrepreneurial strategy.

Planning approach in spatial development of cities and urban projects: Zeytinburnu and Hafencity experiences

Urban design throughout the world, is considered as a field of compromise between urban planning and architecture and as a tool that directs the urban development process. This article emphasizes the impact of the lack of definition of the implementation tools on the underdevelopment of urban design in Turkey. In recent years, especially in Istanbul, large-scale urban regeneration and renewal projects are not dealt within a holistic planning approach. They have issues in integrating with each other and the rest of the city. In this article, the Zeytinburnu Urban Regeneration Project, one of the urban projects developed in Greater Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s Istanbul Metropolitan Planning and Urban Design Centre (IMP), is evaluated in terms of the place of urban design projects within the Turkish planning system in order to question this approach in the planning system. Zeytinburnu reflects the average state of Istanbul’s built-up environment in terms of its physical conditions, the state of its building stock and legal status, together with earthquake damage risk. Therefore, it has been selected as the case study area. In contrast, the Hamburg-HafenCity Urban Regeneration Project has been selected in order to establish the urban planning-design-project relationship, and to analyze the place and significance of this relationship within the planning hierarchy. This project will expand the city centre by 40% and create a new centre which reflects a strong port character. Although their main aims differ, the two case study projects have provided insight for comparative evaluation in the planning system in terms of reorganization of a problematic urban area. Key words: Urban design, urban project, planning system, planning implementation, planning process.

The Olympic Regeneration in East London (ORiEL) study: protocol for a prospective controlled quasi-experiment to evaluate the impact of urban regeneration on young people and their families

IntroductionRecent systematic reviews suggest that there is a dearth of evidence on the effectiveness of large-scale urban regeneration programmes in improving health and well-being and alleviating health inequalities. The development...

Euralille

Has large-scale urban regeneration in general and Euralille in particular affected the social and economic harmony of the Lille Metropolis, the largest northern agglomeration of France? To answer this question, the impact of large-scale urban development projects on real estate, housing and job markets is evaluated. It is found that Euralille plays in the first instance an emblematic role in the economic development and social reconstruction of the Lille community. Its impact on socio-economic ‘re-zoning’ of the metropolis is however far from just symbolic. It has set the trend to a new type of corporate estates, it has disturbed the construction cycle of new offices in other parts of the urban region, and it has taken the lead in the creation of a ‘middle-market’ retail system attracting customers from far beyond the Lille agglomeration to its shopping arcades. Moreover, together with other downtown real estate initiatives, it has fuelled the displacement of lower-income housing to cheaper areas of the Metropolis.