Volume 18 (2024-25)

Each volume of Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal consists of four quarterly 100-page issues published both in print and online. The contents of the latest issues are:

Volume 18 Number 4
Special Issue: Impact of Downtown Programmes and Business Improvement Districts

Editorial
Gary Ferguson, Guest-editor, Principal, Community Revitalization & Rejuvenation Consultants, Former Executive Director, Downtown Ithaca Alliance & Editorial Board Member, Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal
Practice Papers
The evolution of business improvement districts: From place management to place leadership
David Downey, President and Chief Executive Officer & Cathy Lin, Director of Research, International Downtown Association

As municipal budgets and priorities are more constrained than ever before, the business improvement district (BID) model of pooling hyperlocal funds to supplement municipal services and improve a specific neighbourhood is more relevant than ever. This paper sets out an evolution of BIDs from simple partnerships led by the private sector to complex organisations that take on much more complex responsibilities for driving urban revitalisation. Even in the face of major disruptions and uncertainties such as the COVID-19 pandemic, place management organisations have evolved to meet these crises and adapt to new opportunities. The future of cities will continue to depend on strong downtowns, and place management organisations are supporting that future through adapting to hybrid and remote work, reimagining public spaces, supporting local businesses and engaging the community in co-creation. Urban place leadership, with its emphasis on shared responsibility and localised expertise, offers a powerful framework for creating vibrant, resilient and inclusive urban spaces.
Keywords: place management, business improvement districts, downtowns, urban revitalisation, redevelopment, public–private partnerships, stakeholder engagement
Downtown organisations at a crossroads: Strategic and structural change needed
N. David Milder, Founder and President, DANTH, Inc.

After briefly discussing the past effectiveness of downtown organisational models, the analysis explores the abilities of our large downtown organisations in the US to deal with some of the major problems they now face in the post-COVID-19 world. Downtowns need to become much more multifunctional and true central places for their communities in a manner that decreases the presence of office space while increasing the amount of space allocated to housing, entertainment and leisure activities. There are, however, a host of other key problems that are connected to the office space issue. Downtown activities associated with social connections and interactions will be as — or even more — important than those associated with work in the future. This analysis scopes out the strong challenges these problems pose and recommends some solution paths for dealing with them. Many ‘same old’ strategic, organisational and operational options will not be viable.
Keywords: downtowns, CSFs, BIDs, Main Street, multifunctionalism, real estate silos, central places
Rebound or transformation: What is next for business improvement districts after 50 years?
Paul R. Levy Founding Chief Executive, Philadelphia’s Center City District

As business improvement districts (BIDs) in the US reach the half-century mark, how prepared are they to handle challenges lingering from the events of 2020: the impact of remote and hybrid work on downtown vitality, resurgence of quality-of-life challenges and, for many, declining assessments as older office buildings empty out? This paper reviews the history and evolution of downtown organisations, primarily in North America, as they have responded to trends that have reshaped urban regions and city centres in the last half-century. It asks if the disruptions triggered by the 2020 global pandemic were just another in a series of challenges for which city centre organisations already have the skills and panoply of programmes through which to respond? Or were the disruptions so profound as to require a complete rethinking of downtown land use and functions? Should BIDs and related city centre organisations simply do more of what they were doing in 2019, securing additional sources of revenue, or must they rethink and restructure their mission, adding new services and different professional staff to fashion new funding sources and programmes to respond to profoundly changed realities and to support the realignment of downtown economies? Based on national research overseen by the author, more than three decades managing and expanding a BID, a review of multiple published policy studies and interviews with several downtown professionals across the US, the paper outlines the types of choices to be considered and implemented by city centre leaders, tailored to the site-specific conditions in their downtown.
Keywords: business improvement districts (BIDs), hybrid work, post-pandemic recovery, downtown diversification, city centre management, office to residential conversions
Filling the voids: The role of business improvement districts in retail attraction
Michael J. Berne, President, MJB Consulting

In light of the voids that exist in the leasing ecosystem as a result of the incentive structures within which private sector actors operate, business improvement districts (BIDs) can — and in many cases, should — play a more proactive role in retail attraction, working closely with property owners and leasing agents to catalyse, elevate, shape and/or nurture the retail offer, not just for the benefit of the district as a whole but also the bottom-line interests of those same actors. With some notable exceptions, this sort of work has been largely confined to the US and would represent a significant shift in the UK context, though arguably one that makes a great deal of sense, given not only that the high street continues to struggle, but also that BIDs, not local authorities, are in many ways better positioned to spearhead and front such efforts. Drawing on observations and case studies from the author’s nearly 25 years of consulting work across the US, Canada and the UK, this paper carefully lays out the argument(s) in favour of a BID undertaking such an initiative, delves into the practical considerations that should inform whether to do so, details the specific functions it would entail, and discusses the changes in mindset it would demand.
Keywords: retail, retail offer, retail leasing, business attraction, downtown, high street, BID
Research Papers
Navigating the paradox of business improvement districts in Spain: Challenges and opportunities
Gloria Aparicio, Professor of Marketing and Retail & Pilar Zorrilla, Professor of Marketing and Retail, University of The Basque Country UPV-EHU

This study investigates the feasibility of implementing business improvement districts (BIDs) in Spain to overcome the limitations of the voluntary Centro Comercial Abierto (CCA) model, including free-rider issues and inconsistent funding. Using a review of legislative frameworks and pilot projects in Barcelona, the research identifies key barriers, such as legal uncertainty, governance conflicts and challenges in collecting mandatory fees, that hinder the adoption of the BID model despite recent regulatory advances in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Navarre. Findings highlight the need for place-sensitive approaches to align BID implementation with Spain’s unique urban dynamics and stakeholder concerns. The analysis recommends legislative refinements, including clearer governance structures and effective fee collection mechanisms, alongside leveraging digital transformation and smart city initiatives to foster public–private collaboration. These measures aim to enhance stakeholder cohesion and establish a sustainable framework for urban revitalisation through BIDs in Spain. Emerging trends such as digital transformation and the development of smart cities present new opportunities to align public and private interests, fostering stakeholder cohesion and enhancing the sustainability of these initiatives.
Keywords: business improvement district, Spanish cities, retail, public–private partnership
Business improvement districts and their management organisations: A review of their history, institutional forms and functions
Göktuğ Morçöl, Professor, Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg

Business improvement districts (BIDs) are areas/districts designated for the delivery of supplementary local public services. Their management organisations (BIDMOs) are authorised to deliver these services to designated areas. In this paper, the variations in the legal statuses of BIDMOs in the US (local governments as BIDMOs, public authorities and non-profits) and other countries (eg the task performer model in Germany) are summarised. To present the contexts of these variations, the long and recent historical evolutions in the 20th century are traced. The three different ways BIDs are conceptualised in academic literature (BIDs as neoliberal tools, BIDs as public–private partnerships and BIDMOs as actors in metropolitan governance) are summarised and their implications for understanding their roles in metropolitan governance discussed. The following implications of the definitions, history and conceptualisations for practitioners are presented. First, it is important for all practitioners to understand the complexity of and variations in BIDs and their evolution in order to appreciate their significance in metropolitan governance in today’s world. Secondly, practitioners should be aware of the implications of the various provisions of the BID-enabling laws, such as the direct approval and remonstrance models in their creation. Thirdly, they should be aware of the variations in the services that may be provided by BIDMOs and the authorities they may exercise, as well as the historical trend of widening of the range of these services and authorities.
Keywords: business improvement districts, self-assessment districts, public authorities, metropolitan governance, local service delivery
The past, present and future of New York City business improvement districts: Observing change in urban governance
Dan Ziebarth, Ernst Mach Fellow, Austrian Institute for International Affairs

Business improvement districts (BIDs) are organisations made up of property owners within a designated geographic area who voluntarily agree to levy an additional tax on themselves to fund initiatives to maintain services and improve the conditions of the area. The main goal of BIDs is typically to collectively enhance the economic vitality and aesthetic appeal of the designated area to benefit area residents and business owners. These forms of public–private partnership were first implemented in the 1970s, and today number more than 2,000. The focus of this paper is on the past, present and future of BIDs in New York City (NYC), the largest city in the US and one of the most important social and economic centres worldwide. Today, in NYC alone, there are currently 75 BIDs providing nearly US$200m in investment and serving approximately 85,000 businesses. The paper begins by providing historical background on the establishment of early BIDs in NYC and the expansion of BIDs to current times. It moves on to discuss the current state of BIDs in the city based upon the most recent trend reporting. Following this, consideration is given to these trends in relation to expected future conditions in the city and broader changes in urban development and politics. The paper concludes with remarks on how shifting socio economic conditions in urban areas create an expanded role of BIDs in urban life, while also expecting to face challenges of rising costs of operations, insufficient public funding and institutional constraints.
Keywords: business improvement districts, public–private partnerships, urban governance, urban politics, urban policy, New York City
Anchor institutions in the changing city: The university’s role in shaping the Future High Street
Vanessa Toulmin, Director of City, Culture and Public Engagement, University of Sheffield, Malcolm Tait, Professor of Planning, School of Geography and Planning, University of Sheffield, Tosh Warwick, Research Associate, School of Geography and Planning, University of Sheffield & Julian Dobson, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University

This paper contributes to debates on the role of universities within cities and develops a broader understanding of them as anchor institutions. As the UK high street faces a period of continued, challenging change, a case study approach is adopted in examining the role of universities as anchor institutions in shaping the future of urban centres. Following on from the House of Lords’ Built Environment Committee’s ‘High Streets: Life Beyond Retail’ 2024 report emphasising the importance of engaged local communities in the future of the high street, to which the authors contributed. This paper focuses on the UK Government’s Future High Streets initiative through a case examination of one university’s role in shaping a successful Future High Streets project from conception to the early stages of delivery. Taking Sheffield as a case study, the paper highlights the university’s multifaceted role as a key city stakeholder and reveals the benefits of the institution’s involvement through knowledge exchange and enhanced capacity, before tentatively suggesting future directions in university–city regeneration projects.
Keywords: anchor institutions, high streets, regeneration, levelling up, universities

Volume 18 Number 3

Editorial
Andrew Tallon, Editor
Practice Papers
Overcoming the ‘greenlash’
John C. Austin, Senior Fellow, Eisenhower Institute, Gettysburg College; Non-resident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution, Ben Speggen Vice President, Jefferson Educational Society & Ava Shapiro Research Assistant, Colby College

A central — perhaps the central — challenge confronting political leaders and economic change makers in all our democracies is the need for society-wide actions to minimise the effects of climate change, and to tackle its root cause: the reliance of societies and economies on fossil fuels. In the US, UK, Germany, Sweden and elsewhere in Europe,1 a broad majority of the public wants to see action to address and reverse the impacts of climate change — a public that also believes that going green and ameliorating climate change can be a source of new jobs that can reinvigorate rural areas suffering from loss of young people. Yet in all our countries, leaders seeking to lead the ‘green’ or ‘great’ transformation (as it is referred to in Europe) confront, and to be successful need to overcome, what many describe as a ‘greenlash’2 — a phenomenon whereby many climate change denying, or just ideologically contrarian, leaders encourage residents to believe that policies and practices to support the green economy transformation are being ‘done to them’ by urban elites, and such policies are injurious to the way of life of rural, industrial and/or extractive region residents. (Examples of this backlash abound across the world, from the UK Conservative Party’s retreat from climate change amelioration3 to German farmers rallying against Berlin’s green policy4 and, perhaps most starkly, in coal mining regions such as West Virginia in the US, where a once strongly Democrat-voting population has moved to the extreme right, blaming Democrats’ environmental policies and a perceived ‘war on coal’ for their economic distress.5) To effectively aid national and local policy makers and practitioners of green economic transformation, the transatlantic Heartland Transformation Network brought together new research on the attitudes towards climate change amelioration efforts of residents of economically still struggling former industrial and rural heartlands, which are often the targets of ‘greenlash’ agitants. As part of this process, the network convened a transatlantic discussion6 with successful practitioners of green transformation from within these regions. The goal of the discussion was to gather new insights to offer other economic change practitioners across our countries on how green economies can and are being developed, with support and buy-in from heartland residents, and in so doing, overcome the ‘greenlash’ and work successfully to revitalise and grow the economies of rural and industrial heartland regions on both sides of the Atlantic. This is a report on those insights.
Keywords: greenlash; green economy; climate change; economic transformation; heartland regions; inclusive growth; great transformation
Before disaster strikes: Climate resiliency through proactive decarbonisation
Mahesh Ramanujam, President and Chief Executive Officer, Global Network for Zero

Cities are the beating heart of cross-sector innovation, technological advancement and the expansion of human progress. Yet with nearly two-thirds of the world’s population set to reside in these international hubs by mid-century, the challenges of population density, a global economy of consumption, increased emissions and a subsequently warmer world remain an imminent threat to the survival and prosperity of all. Simply put, the acceleration of human-induced climate change and strengthening extreme weather systems requires the acceleration of decarbonised cities across the globe. With only 0.023 per cent of the world’s buildings earning net zero classification, however — and even those only including Scope 1 and 2 emissions elimination — a Scope 3 emissions focus has emerged as a critical outlier and key component to closing the gap and scaling decarbonisation efficiently and effectively. With Scope 3 accounting for all indirect emissions across an organisational value chain, this category presents both the biggest hurdle and opportunity for both public and private sector entities. Businesses and organisations using a buildings-first, Scope 3-centric approach with the Global Network for Zero (GNFZ) have thus far effectively accelerated building decarbonisation in their operations. With global successes in achieving emissions elimination targets ahead of schedule, the template has proved an effective mechanism that can and must be replicated for buildings at the city level. This paper lays out how the GNFZ methodology can be applied to cities to facilitate their ability to lead on the transition to net zero, and how implementation of this holistic model can serve as a pivotal first step in scaling unparalleled transformation for a thriving, resilient and enduring future.
Keywords: climate change; net zero; decarbonisation; acceleration; net zero cities
Transforming urban retail environments: A strategic framework for digital-age regeneration
Ufuk Bahar, Founder, Urbanist Architecture

Urban retail landscapes are undergoing unprecedented transformation, driven by digital disruption, shifting consumer behaviour and structural economic challenges. This paper presents a practical framework for urban regeneration professionals to address the decline of traditional retail spaces while seizing opportunities for creative revitalisation. The first section examines the current retail transformation landscape in England, highlighting the impact of e-commerce, integrated physical-digital retail strategies (known as omnichannel approaches where retailers combine traditional stores with digital platforms) and emerging technologies, including augmented and virtual reality. It explores changing consumer expectations, with a growing demand for experience-driven retail, convenience and sustainability. Key challenges, including rising vacancy rates, economic pressures and the homogenisation of urban centres, are contextualised with relevant examples and data from across the UK. The second section explores innovative retail format solutions, including adaptive reuse strategies, mixed-use developments and flexible retail spaces. It assesses the financial viability of emerging formats and demonstrates the importance of integrating physical and digital experiences to meet modern consumer needs. Case studies showcase successful adaptive approaches that prioritise economic and social value. The final section provides a strategic implementation framework, offering practical guidance for retail space conversion, navigating regulatory and planning considerations and fostering meaningful community engagement. It emphasises the importance of collaboration, sustainability and place-based approaches to create resilient and vibrant urban centres. Drawing exclusively from the UK context and experience, the paper delivers actionable strategies for transforming struggling retail environments into sustainable spaces that may serve entirely different purposes from their original retail use. By aligning innovation with local needs and market realities, the paper provides a framework for ensuring urban cores remain dynamic, adaptable and future-proof in the digital age. While the examples and policy contexts discussed are specific to England, the principles and approaches outlined may have broader applicability.
Keywords: urban retail transformation; adaptive reuse; digital disruption; mixed-use development; omnichannel retail; placemaking; smart cities; retail innovation; experiential retail; urban resilience; high street revitalisation; stakeholder collaboration; economic urban vitality
Research Papers
The universe of place brands: What is it really about?
Mohamed Berrada, Lecturer, National School of Commerce and Management

Place branding has in recent years become a considerably attractive topic for academic research and an increasingly popular practice among local officials. It is currently a central element of contemporary place management, necessitating local, regional and national authorities to invest more funds in branding activities in order to create and manage a place brand. While there are many cases of place brands around the world that have been successful, others have failed for various reasons, in particular because this practice is still misunderstood and generates confusion among researchers, practitioners and local officials. This paper aims to address certain important questions related to the enigmatic and complex universe of place brands. The hope behind our desire to provide relevant answers and further clarifications is to assist professionals and organisations in charge of such brands to assimilate their specific characteristics and requirements so as to better define a successful place branding strategy.
Keywords: place brand; place branding; place marketing; place management; public management
Assessing contextual development in historical urban areas: Lessons from the Khatami Cultural-Artistic Complex in Iran
Sara Soleimani, Assistant Professor, Architecture Department, University of Kurdistan, Salahedin Molanaei, Assistant Professor, University of Kurdistan, Nina Ghaslani, PhD Candidate in Architecture, Shahid Beheshti University & Sara Gharibi, M.Arch Graduate, Architecture Department, University of Kurdistan

The challenges posed by urban development to historical landscape conservation are more acute in developing countries. Due to widespread development in urban areas, the cultural heritage of cities may suffer irreparable damage; it is therefore necessary to strike a balance. The Khatami Cultural-Artistic Complex, located in the historical area of Ardakan in the Yazd Province in Iran, was selected as a reliable reference to research how to maintain the equilibrium between urban development and historical landscape conservation. In particular, the study looked at how the structure and historical texture could be preserved as a cultural space and its cultural heritage restored. This paper explores the concept of contextual architecture by first conducting a literature review. The strengths and weaknesses of the study sample were evaluated by stakeholder feedback and finally solutions for future designs were proposed. The results revealed that the best way to improve the quality of cultural architecture in historical urban areas is to apply context-aware designs taking into account the physical, climatic and sociocultural dimensions.
Keywords: contextual architecture; historical urban areas; cultural heritage; best practice
Gentrification and affordable housing in Johannesburg, South Africa: Examining displacement, accessibility and policy responses
Mzuchumile Makalima, PhD Candidate in Economics and Regional Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences

This study explores the impacts of gentrification on affordable housing in Johannesburg, South Africa through a review of the relevant literature. As the city undergoes rapid urbanisation and economic growth, certain effects of gentrification have become a prominent concern. The findings shed light on the processes of displacement experienced by low-income residents in gentrifying neighbourhoods, as well as the changing socio-economic landscape and altered access to essential services. The study also examines the role of policy responses in addressing the challenges posed by gentrification and promoting the preservation and creation of affordable housing options. By conducting this analysis, this research contributes to a broader understanding of the relationship between gentrification and affordable housing in Johannesburg. The findings have implications for urban planning and policy making, informing the development of strategies that prioritise inclusive and equitable urban development, ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are shared by all residents, while safeguarding the availability and affordability of housing for vulnerable populations.
Keywords: gentrification; affordable housing; Johannesburg; displacement; inclusive urban development
Exploring the efficiency of indirect green facades with native plants to lower rising façade temperatures: A way to improve urban living in tropical regions
Dhivya Sethupathy, Research Scholar, Amity University, Ravindhar Sarathchandran, Director, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research & Deepti Pande, Rana Associate Professor, Amity University

Urbanisation has drawn more people to towns and cities, resulting in extremely high population densities and a lack of available urban green spaces in metropolitan cities such as Chennai, India. This urbanisation has led to dangerous climate conditions as more and more structures are built and green horizontal cover is removed. Rising temperatures and the urban heat island effect make cities, especially those in tropical regions such as Chennai, vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and thermal issues. The aim of this paper is to discover whether indirect green façade technology could be used to reduce surface temperature and improve indoor thermal comfort. In this study a preliminary literature analysis was carried out on the different types of vertical greening systems (VGS) and their use in urban areas. A survey was also conducted with residents in Chennai to understand how vertical greening was viewed by the local people. The literature findings concluded that VGS could be effective when used on the façades of buildings to improve thermal comfort inside and outside buildings, but there was little research on this technology in hot and humid climates. The survey demonstrated that the residents of Chennai were aware of the benefits of VGS for aesthetic purposes, but were not so aware of how they could be used to save energy; many residents lacked the technical knowledge of how VGS could be used to improve thermal conditions and were concerned by their potential structural damage. A field experiment was then conducted using two different native plant species, Indian spinach (Basella rubra) and butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea), which were grown on a vertical trellis structure on a terrace in a residence in Chennai to determine their effects on external surface temperature, internal air temperature and indoor humidity. The field experiment aimed to demonstrate that the effectiveness of green façade technology for thermal cooling is dependent on the type of plant species and its foliage density. The two distinct native edible and herbal plant species used had different physical characteristics. The results of this research indicated that Basella rubra and Clitoria ternatea reduced the maximum surface temperature by 7°C and 4°C respectively and reduced indoor temperature by a maximum of 3.6°C and 2.4°C respectively.
Keywords: urbanisation; vertical greening system; indirect green façade; environment; urban heat island effect; humid climate; green façades; living wall

Volume 18 Number 2

Editorial
Andrew Tallon, Editor
Practice Papers
Heritage-led regeneration in Gloucester
Paul James, Former Leader, Gloucester City Council

This paper describes the regeneration of Gloucester during the period 2004–20. The regeneration efforts adopted by Gloucester City Council used heritage-led regeneration and involved the local community.
Keywords: heritage; regeneration; conservation; development; buildings; viability; community
English devolution: How city-region mayors and industrial policy deliver local and national growth
Patrick Diamond, Professor of Public Policy, Queen Mary, University of London, Jack Shaw, Policy Fellow, University of Manchester, and Andy Westwood, Professor of Public Policy, Government and Business, University of Manchester

The newly elected UK Labour Government has acknowledged the importance of devolution and combined authorities to its industrial strategy and growth agenda. The initial signals appear promising. Ministers reiterate that powers and resources will be directed towards improving growth and the productive capacity of sub-regional economies as a central element of Labour’s growth ‘mission’. Yet there is considerable uncertainty about the long-term direction of the new government’s industrial policy, while the role of city-region mayors in industrial strategy is not yet well established. Despite the rhetoric about the role of mayors, there are tensions as well as scepticism in Whitehall about the capacity of combined authorities to deliver for local economies. Industrial policy is traditionally perceived as a national project with sectoral priorities and centrally driven interventions that can, in this case, achieve the ‘mission’ of making the UK the fastest growing G7 economy by the end of the Parliament. Historically, place has not been an integral feature of industrial policy. Nevertheless, it is clear that Whitehall lacks the capability to oversee industrial policy from the centre. There is a risk that in the laser-like focus on growth, combined authorities are treated as agents to be managed and UK spatial inequalities (already among the worst in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] countries) get worse. In this paper, we make the case that devolved authorities and mayors should be the main agents of industrial policy, working in partnership with government. This is because the fruits of industrial policy are deeply rooted in communities in the form of employment and skills and if new more productive companies are to invest, existing clusters mature and further employment be created, that will require sub-regional commitment and leadership.
Keywords: devolution; industrial strategy; local government; combined authorities; regional inequalities; mayors
Research Papers
Sustainable urbanism and infrastructural development nexus in Akure, Nigeria
Julius Oluranti Owoeye, Senior Lecturer, Federal University of Technology

This paper examines how infrastructural facilities provision has affected the urban development of Akure, Nigeria. The study adopts the survey research design (SRD) method to investigate the nexus with the aid of a structured questionnaire on sampled households, as well as personal interviews, observations and photos to narrate the existing situation. The average number of households in Akure was estimated at 95,232, of which 1 per cent (representing 952 households) were systematically sampled. Findings reveal unguided expansion in the growth of the city and uneven distribution of facilities across the city zones. The irregular population influx and increased urban sprawl experienced in the city has been attributed to the massive provision of infrastructural facilities in the recent past at the expense of rural contiguous settlements. Meanwhile, this uneven distribution of infrastructural facilities has significantly affected their functionality, as well as security, housing and transport systems within the city. To mitigate this, the study suggests a corresponding increase in the provision of facilities in the city and in the hinterlands to curb the incessant rural influx into the city. Also, as the city expands, the facilities need to be increased and maintained for maximum utilisation and functionality.
Keywords: sustainable urbanism; infrastructure development; nexus; population influx; Akure
Indifferent coexistence in Dortmund-Hörde: How upper-middle-class newcomers and long-established working-class residents live side by side in a neighbourhood of contrasts
Verena Gerwinat, Research Associate, TU Dortmund University

Attracting middle-class residents to disadvantaged neighbourhoods is still widely accepted and promoted as a strategy in urban regeneration by urban policy and planning professionals, even though the strategy has often been criticised for promoting the gentrification of these areas. In the traditional working-class district of Hörde in Dortmund, Germany, a closed-down steel mill has been replaced by a luxurious new housing development around an artificial lake. This paper proposes that the planned influx of upper-middle-class newcomers to this area has caused a spatial and social divide in the neighbourhood. The paper examines how winners and losers of structural change live side by side. It shows that interaction between newcomers and long-established working-class residents is extremely rare. Newcomers feel uncomfortable at being an affluent minority in a poor neighbourhood and withdraw into their private spheres around Lake Phoenix. Long-established residents, on the other hand, criticise the newcomers’ lack of interest in engaging with the neighbourhood. They have ambivalent feelings towards the transformation: even though they welcome Lake Phoenix as a project that improves environmental quality and the image of their neighbourhood, it makes them aware of their own social marginalisation. It is argued that this ambivalence prevents open conflicts between long-established residents and newcomers but at the same time increases social distance between the two groups. The findings from the Hörde case study support the thesis that middle-class-oriented urban regeneration leads to small-scale segregation instead of actual social mixing. Furthermore, this paper stresses the importance of the participative planning approach in the urban regeneration process to enable acceptance by the established community and identification with new-build developments.
Keywords: (middle-class-oriented) urban regeneration; social interaction; social mix; small-scale segregation
Slum rehabilitation and sustainable feminine health practices: A case study from an urban slum in India
Muskan Verma, PhD Student, University of British Columbia, Niharika Singh, Assistant Professor, Symbiosis School of Economics, and Sudipa Majumdar, Director, Integrated Research and Action for Development

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) aspire to halve the proportion of slum dwellers by 2030, which prompted the launch of the ‘Slum Rehabilitation Mission’ in India. Rapid urbanisation has been a major challenge due to the proliferation of urban slums, characterised by inadequate sanitation facilities. Females in such informal settlements are particularly vulnerable due to lack of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. In response, the Government of India undertook an urban slum redevelopment mission in 2011, whereby Dhanas emerged as the largest rehabilitation colony in Chandigarh. Our research reveals laudable efforts by the local administration to provide ample access to sanitation amenities and adequate rubbish disposal setups within the colony, making Dhanas an exemplar case. Stigma, embarrassment and shyness surrounding menstruation, however, was prevalent across all age groups. So, despite provisions of physical infrastructure, socio-cultural transformation requires efforts in the forms of community-level initiatives, marketing campaigns, media involvement and corporate social responsibility. This study makes a significant contribution, being the first survey of a slum rehabilitation colony – in Dhanas, Chandigarh – delving into practical civic aspects such as sanitation for girls in school, comfort in the workplace and access to absorbents, among others. Most importantly, this is the first primary study in India to highlight the success of its Slum Rehabilitation Mission at Dhanas, which should be emulated in accordance with Goal 3 of the SDGs.
Keywords: WASH infrastructure; menstrual hygiene; stigma; slum rehabilitation; India
Public sector condominium complexes for low-income dwellers: Social and environmental impacts in Colombo, Sri Lanka
N. Chandrasiri Niriella, Professor of Urban Sociology, University of Colombo

The Colombo City Beautification Project is one of the most discussed social programmes in recent urban development policy. This beautification strategy initiated by the Sri Lankan Government in 2006–14 included urban development and urban housing in the project, which had become a major issue for the city of Colombo. In order to address this, the former government came up with a master plan to relocate over 68,000 underserved households to adequate housing units under the urban regeneration project. The inevitable outcome of the 2011 project was the forced relocation of low-income dwellers into new urban housing communities in Colombo.
Keywords: low-income dweller; public sector condominiums; city beautification; urban regeneration; sustainable urbanisation

Volume 18 Number 1

Editorial
Andrew Tallon, Editor
Practice Papers
Incentivising the market to build affordable housing: The New York City toolkit
Yuxiang Luo, Director of Urban Economic Development, James Lima Planning + Development

Affordable housing is among the biggest policy challenges facing cities worldwide. Treating New York City as a case study, this paper reviews a multifaceted toolkit to combat the housing crisis. Specifically, the analysis focuses on how the government incentivises real estate developers to build affordable housing, with both financial incentives such as tax abatements, tax credits and loans funded by tax-exempt bonds and non-financial means such as zoning regulations. The study demonstrates both the successes achieved by New York City and the unintended consequences that emerged from these interventions, and the research argues that beyond financial and economic considerations, long-range spatial planning factors play a pivotal role in the formulation of effective affordable housing policies. The research underscores the need for policy makers globally to take a holistic approach and integrate various elements of city growth to address the intricate challenges posed by housing crises in urban environments.
Keywords: levelling up; unemployment; infrastructure; skills; productivity; globalisation; networks
Stakeholder engagement: From sharing information and building consensus to mobilising public and private actors to create collaborative ecosystems
Marco Dall’Orso, Development Director, Marina Development Corporation

The paper proposes a novel approach to dialogue with local stakeholders to maximise the shared value that can be generated by infrastructure investments for the benefit of urban communities. The approach proposes a method for deliberately activating synergies between infrastructure and complementary initiatives through the active engagement of public and private stakeholders. In many cases today, infrastructure is designed, financed and implemented as functionally unitary engineering works that meet a specific need, leaving synergies with complementary initiatives to be activated spontaneously. Moreover, the dialogue with local stakeholders is limited and reductive, aiming mainly at the exchange of some project information and consensus building, thus missing the opportunity to identify and mobilise those ideas, capabilities and resources that are always present within a community. In the proposed approach, infrastructure is the catalyst for a long-term vision and stakeholder engagement is the tool for identifying the synergistic initiatives that can be implemented with the participation of public and private actors to maximise value creation.
Keywords: infrastructure; stakeholder engagement; urban regeneration; cities; urban communities; sustainability; impact investment; public–private partnership
Research Papers
Respecting, retaining, recreating: The successful renovation of the Beijing 751 D-Park
Fang Bin Guo, Reader/Senior Lecturer, Liverpool John Moores University, and Yonggang Wang, Designer, Idea Latitude/Urban Planning and Design Institute

Post-industrial sites in Chinese cities are being redeveloped as catalysts for urban regeneration and economic development. Calling the shift from ‘Made in China’ to ‘Created in China’, the Chinese government is encouraging the development of the creative industry to transform post-industrial sites. Successful examples of city renewal projects provide examples of this strategy, tuning into the creative cultures and industrial heritage of these cities and offering platforms for creative enterprises to flourish. This paper describes a recently funded renovation project, Beijing 751 D-Park, which has been undertaken to analyse these opportunities, and offers the initial findings of a case study. It unlocks the development process of the renovation project in terms of its philosophy, design method and planning strategy.
Keywords: urban regeneration; industrial heritage; aged-factory transformation; human-centred design; culture value
Adapting to climate change and the European Union pursuit of a just transition
Brian G. Field, Senior Research Fellow and Visiting Professor, University College London

The European Green Deal was launched by the European Commission (EC) in December 2019, before being formally approved in 2020. It comprises a package of policy measures that aim to set the European Union (EU) on the path to a green transition, with the ultimate objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Despite the EU’s longstanding commitment to reducing carbon emissions in support of climate change mitigation and the achievement of its net zero ambition, this paper focuses on the growing importance of climate change adaptation within its policy portfolio. With respect to the latter, the long-term vision is for the EU to become a climate-resilient society that is also fully adapted to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Achieving climate neutrality and a climate-resilient society by 2050 will be more challenging for some EU member states and regions than for others, eg poorer regions and those highly dependent on fossil fuels or with carbon-intensive industries that employ significant numbers of people. To address such issues, the EU has introduced a Just Transition Mechanism to help level the playing field and provide financial and technical support to regions most adversely affected by the move towards a low carbon economy. The paper traces the evolution of the EU’s climate policy agenda leading up to the adoption of the Green Deal, outlines its proposed road map in pursuit of climate neutrality and a climate-resilient society by 2050, and questions the efficacy of some its intermediate targets including the adequacy and equity of its just transition aspirations. It also details and scrutinises the key role that the European Investment Bank (EIB) will play in supporting delivery of the strategy.1,2
Keywords: sustainable development; resilient cities; climate change; climate change mitigation; climate change adaptation; EU climate policy; EU Green Deal; Just Transition Mechanism; Just Transition Fund; just resilience; EIB climate policy; Europe’s climate bank
A tale of two generations: Justice in cities for a low-carbon world
Alicia Phillips, PhD Researcher, and Raphael J. Heffron, Professor, Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour

According to the greenhouse gas (GHG) protocol for cities, GHGs are responsible for an estimated 75 per cent of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. This represents a key opportunity to tackle climate change. With the year 2023 and, in particular, the month of July delivering record-breaking temperatures, this demonstrates a clear need to accelerate decarbonisation and, in this context, to reduce the carbon footprint of cities. Further, acting on urban development addresses a number of key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). Many cities, however, are struggling to break away from a reliance on carbon and some are economically dependent on it. This paper seeks to investigate, through an energy justice lens, some first considerations of how to secure just and sustainable urban regeneration. It posits that energy justice, and its five core principles, is a useful analytical tool for considering the justice and development concerns related to the transition to a low-carbon world. The cities examined in brief in this comparative study are Bordeaux in France, Venice in Italy, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Bangkok in Thailand. The research posits that despite different trajectories, cities can play a leading role in ensuring justice and sustainability in our low-carbon world.
Keywords: cities; decarbonisation; energy justice; sustainable urban regeneration; economic development; Bordeaux; Venice; Bangkok; Ho Chi Minh City
Stakeholders’ longitudinal perspectives on a large public housing redevelopment in Los Angeles, California
Judith L. Perrigo, Assistant Professor of Social Welfare, Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of California, Jose J. Scott, PhD Candidate, Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California, Victoria Shier, Research Scientist, Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics and Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California and Ashlesha Datar, Associate Director, Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California

The Homeownership and Opportunity for People Everywhere VI programme (HOPE VI) model created a new approach to redeveloping public housing in the US, paving the way for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI). Unlike traditional public housing redevelopment, CNI aims to revitalise entire ecosystems to create sustainable, thriving communities by focusing on housing, people, neighbourhoods and participatory community planning. This study used qualitative methods to explore the longitudinal perspectives of 12 stakeholders involved in a large CNI-funded public housing redevelopment project in Los Angeles, California. Our grounded theory analysis identified four key themes: (1) persistent community ghosts; (2) growing regeneration rooted in optimism and hope for the future; (3) displacement concerns; and (4) the emergence of a mixed-income dichotomy. These findings underscore the importance of continued community involvement in redevelopment efforts, especially in communities that bear complex historical and social challenges.
Keywords: ecosystems; community development; economic development; low-income housing; public housing; Choice Neighborhoods Initiative
From desperation to best practice: Spatial decision-making in the regeneration of Gyldenrisparken
Nezih Burak Bican, Professor, Department of Architecture, Atilim University

Post-war social housing estates in Europe have been undergoing wide-scale regeneration to improve the physical decay of these sites and address the concentration of vulnerable residents in these areas, which has resulted in their social segregation, marginalisation and stigmatisation. As these estates cover and affect quite large public spaces, holistic approaches have recently been adopted. Bearing in mind that each regeneration case is unique, this paper describes the collaborative approach taken in the regeneration of Gyldenrisparken in Denmark, which evolved from a desperate situation to a best practice case. The paper focuses on the spatial decision-making process — in particular, how the architectural quality of physical interventions was established and how participatory mechanisms were utilised and developed to enable liveable spaces and sustainable regeneration. Making use of a combination of qualitative documentary analysis and in-depth interviews with key actors, this study encompasses the whole regeneration process, including initiatives taken by the housing association and municipal agents, the methodology developed to collect ideas and implement them in the physical design of the public spaces, and the social effort to make the whole process sustainable and the estates liveable. It concludes that post-war estates have the potential to secure their future by embracing physical and social efforts through proactive empowerment strategies and creating new spatial identities.
Keywords: post-war housing; social housing; regeneration; architecture; participation; liveability; sustainability; Gyldenrisparken
Community energy in Italy through the lens of social innovation
Caterina Nicolais, Researcher in Geography and Economic-Politics, University of Naples Parthenope, and Valentina Battista, Lecturer, Materias

Sustainable urban regeneration, in particular with respect to energy, has become a very important issue for local communities currently as a result of the Green New Deal (GND). Renewable energy in domestic consumption is being used to initiate a transition to cleaner energy and limit environmental damage. Through the lens of social innovation, this paper highlights the continuous challenges faced in the transition to lower carbon energy by investigating the opportunity to change the classical top-down management approach to a bottom-up process. The paper fills a gap in the literature by presenting a regional overview of recent Italian community energy sector developments and outlines a number of national best practices in renewable community energy innovation.
Keywords: renewable energy sharing; Green New Deal; sustainable urban regeneration; energy communities; social innovation
Book Review
What’s possible: Investing now for prosperous, sustainable neighborhoods by Kista Egger, David Erickson, Madeline Fraser Cook and Claire Kramer Mills (eds)
Reviewed by Marie Howland, Professor Emeritus, Urban Studies and Planning, University of Maryland