Ranking residential neighborhoods based on their sustainability: A CM-BWM approach

Population growth and rapid urbanization have consequences that are reflected in the economic, environmental, and social stability of city-residential neighborhoods. These impacts directly affect not only residents but also real estate markets and local governments. The professionals working in the latter entities have become increasingly concerned about urban sustainability and its strategic integration into their plans. Strategies have been implemented that focus on both addressing negative aspects of residential neighborhoods and enhancing positive features that can contribute to the continuous improvement of locals’ living conditions. This study applies the multiple-criteria decision analysis approach and a combination of cognitive mapping and the best-worst method (BWM) to identify the most relevant criteria and use these to rank residential neighborhoods according to their sustainability. To apply the selected techniques, two group meetings were held with a panel of decision makers. The results were validated by the panel members and the Funchal City Council councilor for urbanism, who concurred that the proposed ranking system facilitates the identification of the most sustainable residential neighborhoods. The contributions and limitations of the methodological approach are also discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The regulation of contaminated land in England: A solution or problem?

This thesis is concerned with the regulation of contaminated land and the way in which local authorities in England have prepared for and are now implementing Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Part IIA provides a risk-based framework for the identification and remediation of contaminated land. The legislation requires local authorities to take a strategic approach to the identification of contaminated land. The strategic approach adopted by individual local authorities will differ according to resources, technical expertise, size, population, political control and ability to attract inward investment through regeneration.The thesis provides a review of current literature relating to contaminated land policy and risk assessment. The research critically assesses the use of a risk assessment methodology for the identification of contaminated land and evaluates the strategic decision making processes of local authorities charged with a legal duty to identify contaminated land in their area. The thesis also considers the wider implications of Part IIA for the redevelopment of other land, which falls outside the statutory definition of 'contaminated land' but is affected by the presence of contamination.Over 100 local authority officers responsible for dealing with contaminated land participated during various phases of this research. The research consisted of a focus group, questionnaire survey, and an interview phase in order to identify local authority progress before and after implementation. The research presents the findings of a collaborative study with Barnsley MBC and a comparative study of the regulation and redevelopment of contaminated land in Cleveland Ohio, USA. Two case studies are also presented evaluating the risk assessment process applied in a Part IIA context.The research findings identify a number of potential problems for local authorities in implementing Part IIA effectively. Local authorities appear to be struggling to meet self imposed targets set as part of their strategies due to budget restraints, lack of political pressure, potential liability issues, staff changes and insufficient technical guidance. Potential solutions are suggested as part of the conclusions and provide a contribution to knowledge by informing policy makers about the effectiveness of the contaminated land regime. The contaminated land regime is still relatively new and this thesis describes a number of opportunities for further research

Rescuing urban regeneration from urban patronage: towards inclusive development in the Voortrekker Road Corridor

The Voortrekker Road Corridor in Cape Town was recently identified as an Integration Zone according to National Treasury's Integrated City Development Grant (ICDG). Prior to this a number of private and public stakeholders founded the Greater Tygerberg Partnership, in response to the need for a coordinating body to champion inclusive regeneration and local economic development in the corridor and neighbouring northern suburbs. Funded wholly by the City of Cape Town for its first three years of operation, the Partnership had after two years in operation appeared to have made little progress in catalysing interest and tangible investment in the area, even on a micro level. This dissertation utilises the qualitative analysis method of process tracing for the period of 2012-2015 to explore themes of urban governance and conversely urban patronage. It firstly considers whether the apparent stasis is due to the Partnership being subjected to capture by strong private and political elites. Subsequently it examines whether incremental, micro-level governance initiatives and acts of public entrepreneurship, though seemingly small, have the potential to build momentum capable of overcoming such threatening predatory networks, and in so doing redirect the organisation towards achieving substantive inclusive and equitable regeneration

Funding sustainable mobility and liveability: are the current scheme appraisal procedures appropriate?

The CREATE project is concerned with transport policies in cities and how these have evolved over time in response to changing challenges and priorities. In particular it examines how cities have succeeded in limiting the growth and extent of road traffic congestion by reducing reliance on the private car for day-to-day mobility. One of the project's propositions is the existence of a 3-Stage “Transport Policy Evolution Cycle” spread over 50+ years, which gradually shifts the policy emphasis and investments priorities from catering for road traffic growth to building a liveable and healthy city, through developing streets as ‘places’. This report identifies how 'Stage 3' cities assess the benefits of their major transport initiatives in terms the city policy objectives, looking at a set of 10 relevant impacts: number/length of trips made, trip quality,time use in transport, personal security, street liveability, time spent in places, health/wellbeing, community severance, equity/social inclusion, and visual blight. We then focus on how 'Stage 1' and 'Stage 3' cities make investment decisions to prioritise the deployment of sustainability measures and then fund and finance their development Master Plans

Urban entrepreneurialism and creative destruction: a case-study of the urban renewal strategy in the peri-centre of Santiago de Chile, 1990-2005

Since the early 1990s, urban renewal in the peri-centre (inner city) of Santiago de Chile – a metropolis where urban development is part of a strategic national economic agenda – has produced high-density blocks and large-scale redevelopments in decayed neighbourhoods. However, as the rent gap theory suggests, urban decay may be not a ‘natural’ process but a form of market regulation that seeks to devalue both the building value (BV) and the capitalised ground rent (CGR), increase the potential ground rent (PGR), and therefore produce a rent gap large enough to attract large-scale redevelopers to these areas. Based on a case study of the south-western peri-centre of Santiago from 1990 to 2005, this thesis documents: first, significant variations in the CGR in the peri-centre and diverse forms of accumulation of the rent gap by large scale developers. Second, the roles played by the state in subsidising this market and regulating the rent gap through local master plans and national building guidelines. Third, the uneven application of housing upgrading programmes by many peri-central municipalities that limit alternatives to mid-density urban renewal, and the effects produced by the devaluation of the CGR in the use and exchange land values of peri-central neighbourhoods. Fourth, the capacity shown by organised neighbourhood communities to create alternative forms of control of PGR increases. The thesis concludes that, although the rent gap theory provides an effective tool to examine the political and economic conditions leading to gentrification, it needs to be contextualised for Latin America. Control of the rent gap and of its uneven impacts in terms of spatial distribution and accumulation, greater social participation in the definition of urban and building regulations, and more accountable management of the housing upgrading programmes are policy issues that need to be addressed by the Chilean public sector if the current model of urban renewal is to help to improve social reproduction in the peri-centre of Chile’s capital city

Wrong Side of the Tracks? The Development of London’s Railway Terminus Neighbourhoods

The commonly-used phrase ‘the wrong side of the tracks’ implies that railway lines separate places as a matter of course, with economic and social consequences. London has more railway termini than any other world city, with apparent economic, social and spatial differences between places located in front of them and those behind. Contemporary research focuses on transport functions, on the economic potential of station buildings and on the potential for rail to increase catalyse redevelopment, while ignoring their role as the largest buildings in the city, creating separation within the street network. This thesis analyses eight main London railway termini in two time periods: the 1880s and the 2010s. These stations are served by different infrastructure types, from cuttings to viaducts, which form movement barriers in areas located behind them, which are also associated with social decline and post-industrial redevelopment. Space syntax analysis uncovers the impacts of railway termini and their associated structures on movement networks. The economic and social character of areas around the stations is then analysed, to identify differences between neighbourhoods in front of and behind stations. Historical data is mapped and compared with contemporary data, including land uses for both periods and social data from the Booth Poverty Survey, which is compared to contemporary income estimates. Analysis of spatial, social and economic character shows how the railway has influenced neighbourhoods located behind termini over a long period of time. The nature of this influence depends on infrastructure type, viaducts being associated with less separation than other railway structures. This research is significant for the long-term redevelopment of railway termini, demonstrating their importance as an integral part of the city and the significance of understanding the separation they create

Mega urban transport projects as a catalyst for sustainable urban regeneration and the role of mega events

This thesis focuses on identifying inter-relationships between three different types of mega projects, including mega urban transport projects (MUTPs), sustainable urban regeneration schemes and mega events, such as the Olympics. This research attempts to test the hypothesis that ‘MUTPs can be an effective agent for sustainable urban regeneration and mega events’. It further assumes that ‘A well-functioning co-operation within this cluster of mega project can bring about a favourable outcome, i.e. maximum benefits and minimum costs’. The premise of the research discussed is that an appreciation of institutional arrangements and power relationships is vital in understanding the nature of complexity in decision-making regarding MUTP planning and delivery, and their associated developments. The methodology outlined is essentially a two-strand approach applied for purposes of illustration to a case study (the Channel Tunnel Rail Link). Strand one of the methodology is pre-hypothesis led - based on an analysis of the narrative, whilst the other is hypothesis led - based on an analysis of the returns to conventional interview questionnaires. This study concludes that conditions which allow one to coordinate the delivery of these three different types of mega projects include having a proactive partnership between the public and private sectors, a brokerage role played by local authorities, visionary politicians, streamlined planning powers, good stakeholder management, and continuous political commitment. Moreover, the locomotive role played by the MUTP which enables the urban regeneration schemes and mega events to happen could not implement without existing brownfield sites and the injection of significant public investments. In addition, the coalition of interests that forms itself around these projects is a leading dimension of these major developments. This coalition is mostly constituted by elite groups. It is also suggested that the coordination between these major projects remains rhetoric which is achieved by the interdependency between project discourses

Evaluating mega-urban regeneration projects:Developing a new framework

Mega Urban Regeneration Projects (MURPs) have become key features of regeneration in many cities. Like many large projects, MURPs, because of their complexity and scale, often face the difficulties of being over-budget or late. The overall aim of this research is to develop and validate a new framework to evaluate mega urban regeneration projects. To address this fours objectives are formulated. Firstly, to explore the nexus between MURP, urban transformation and globalisation. Secondly, to identify the characteristics of sustainable mega urban regeneration projects. Thirdly, to investigate existing sustainable urban regeneration frameworks. Fourthly, develop a framework to evaluate Mega Urban Regeneration Projects and finally, validate the framework. The research seeks to apply institutional theory in order to analyse the role of different institutions, their capacity in policy development, implementation and coordination of urban regeneration processes. The research acknowledges the distinction between inductive and deductive approaches but uses aspects of both approaches in its different phases. Initially, the most appropriate path for this research is a deductive route, top down method; to generate a draft framework to reflect key notions and measurable indicators to assess mega urban regeneration projects. Later, the thesis used the inductive approach during subsequent qualitative probing to investigate the complex institutional, structural and cultural factors at play to gain a more nuanced insight, which takes account of different organisational structures, cultures and institutions and variable local conditions. The investigation of the proposed project evaluation framework adopted a qualitative approach. This was achieved through a comprehensive review of literature and analysis of a number of MURPs at the international level in order to identify key attributes of such projects. The empirical phase involved face to face interviews with key stakeholders involved with planning, finance, investment, development and implementation of major mega urban regeneration projects and case studies of Kings Cross, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Nine Elms Projects in England and Utrecht Station Area Redevelopment (USARP) project in the Netherlands. The thesis found that MURPs are, by definition, expensive, complex and have multiple – often competing – goals, which complicates their assessment. Even though the draft MURP evaluation framework is balanced and multi-faceted with procedural and teleological aspects, it offers no definitive blueprint. Even the proposed MURP assessment tool considers sustainability; it is not a ''silver bullet'' but part of a multi-criteria, iterative participatory and evolving evaluation process which needs to engage with all stakeholders. MURP’s transformative aspirations must be tempered by consideration of the urban and site context within a specific cultural and legal and planning regime. Infrastructure investments or entrepreneurial interventions need to be commercially viable, enhance the public realm or otherwise demonstrate strong social benefits. Nevertheless, despite its limitations the MURP framework provides a useful supplement to standard planning or commercial project evaluations. It presents an objective, scientific way of approaching contentious issues. Without the framework, misguided projects can start, or good ones stall, due to wrangling between rival stakeholders. This study makes original contribution to knowledge in the form of theoretical, policy, methodological and practical contribution in understanding Mega Urban Regeneration Projects (MURPs)

Making redevelopment viable: reduction of risks to developers by Urban Renewal Authority in Hong Kong

The research presents the findings on developers' views of the major risk factors, risks pricing and risks management on redevelopment. Developers bear and manage a lot of risks. Up to date, academic research has focused primarily on the normative or 'should be' aspect of developers' decisions. This study attempts to fill in the gap unravelling the behavioural aspects of their decisions that truly reflect developers' actions in the current market conditions in practice. This research makes use of research instruments such as questionnaires, interviews and focus groups, prior to the development of conjoint analysis to delve deeper into developers' trade-offs of risk factors. Findings of the research with particular reference to the context of Hong Kong, a high density built environment, suggest profits and the uncertainty of obtaining the profits are the main factors. Planning procedures is also an important risk noting the recent amendments to the Town Planning Ordinance in Hong Kong allowing wider public participation which in turn increase developers’ risks. State action through the quango, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), is not a concern to developers as they prefer and can redevelop on their own without being tied up by the bureaucracy associated with partnering with URA. Other factors such as the macroeconomic and market conditions, lease aspect, land assembly, public engagement and relation with stakeholders are not significant. The findings of the present research add to the current knowledge and understanding of how best developers should manage risks in redevelopment. As a result of such awareness and insight, it is hoped that developers would be better able to design and implement more financially viable and better redevelopment schemes. This will in the long term facilitate the pace of redevelopment in Hong Kong; and provide insights into redevelopment elsewhere, especially in high density built environments worldwide, such as New York. The Thesis is dedicated to my dear mother and father, my Saviour Jesus Christ, those who love me and those who suffer

Investigating the implications of edge-city development on integrated spatial planning: case study of Umhlanga, (Prestondale) eThekwini Municipality.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.In the global South, the desire for cities to increase their participation in the global economy by cultivating world cities has led to a heightened presence of high-end privatized urban enclaves that have seemingly become key drivers of city development. Conceptualised as edge cities under the Postmodern Urbanisation framework in the Los Angeles school of thought, these urban enclaves showcase how the decentralization of cities and the demand for affluent lifestyle living has dominated city development trajectories in both developed and developing countries. In response to this trend, more cities are embracing urban policy discourses and spatial plans that are orientated around achieving spatial integration with the interest of ensuring equitable access to city resources for all. The planning discourse in South Africa remains committed to transforming the urban morphology of South African cities from one that is plagued with spatial segregation and fragmentation to one that practises urban compaction and integrated urban development. With this background, the main objective of the study was to find out the impact that edge city development has on the transformation agenda that advocates for integrated spatial planning within the South African urban landscape. A qualitative research approach was used to obtain findings using structured key-informant interviews as a primary data collection source, where purposive sampling was used to purposefully select the sample population. The study found that the development of edge cities perpetuates spatial segregation patterns that exist within the South African urban from. Despite legislature and policy commitment to spatial transformation and integrated development processes, edge city development continues to develop along economic and class divisions that are a legacy of apartheid planning. Furthermore, the study found that the implications that edge city development has towards achieving integrated spatial planning includes increased urban sprawl, deepening socio-economic divisions, spatial exclusivity as well as a lack of public facilities that are not privatized