11 Andrew Jones

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Urban regeneration


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Urban Regeneration in Europe

Presentation to the CATCH Final Event,Liverpool, June 2005

Dr Andrew Jones

Birkbeck College, University of London

020 7631 6471

[email protected]


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1) Introduction

Urban regeneration & ways in which Europeangovernments have used it to tackle social deprivation& urban decline

Urban regeneration argued to be a widely

experienced but little understood phenomenon Most towns & cities in Europe have engaged with the

idea somehow - a policy panacea

A long history to urban regeneration policy: widevariety of ideas, policies & projects

Recently: key impacts on debate around sustainability& ramifications for environmental quality (energyefficiency, air quality, CO2 emissions)


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This talk: tackles definition of urbanregeneration

Then examines principles of urbanregeneration

Provides wider context across Europe &differences from UK

Role of transport & degree to which that hasbeen absorbed into regeneration policy

Examines how that relates to environmentalsustainability

Considers two European examples: Bilbao,northern Spain & Rotterdam in theNetherlands


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2) What is UrbanRegeneration?

Simple definitions:

(1) comprehensive and integrated vision andactionwhich leads to the resolution of urbanproblems and which seeks to bring about a

lasting improvement in the economic,physical, social and environmental conditionof an area that has been subject to change.(Lichfield 1992)

(2) the regeneration of urban areas to stem

processes of economic, environmental, social& cultural decline that bring with themaccompanying decay of the physical builtenvironment. (Roberts 1999)


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Principles of 21st Century UrbanRegeneration (Roberts 1999)

1) detailed analysis of the urban fabric

2) simultaneous adaptation of physical, social,economic & environmental realms

3) integrated & comprehensive strategy

4) sustainability 5) clear operation objectives

6) make best use of resources

7) include stakeholders

8) recognise the importance of measuring progress 9) flexibility & ability to revise programmes

10) recognise that different elements progress atdifferent speeds


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3) Re-generating European Cities Roberts & Sykes (2000) in their Handbookargue 4

major aspects of the need for regeneration:

1) Economic Transition & Employment Change (deindustrialization, inappropriate labour market

skills)

2) Social & Community Issues

(counterurbanization, migration, communitydecline)

3) Physical obsolescence

(obsolescence of buildings, dereliction,contamination, outdated infrastructure)

4) Environmental Quality & Sustainability Many of the above factors degrade urban

environments, unsustainable urbanization


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EU has no specific urban regeneration mandate, butsought to tackle through various policies

From 1990s, specific policies (Urban Pilot Projects &

Urban Initiative) Sustainable urban regeneration through wide variety of

different policy tools (structural funds, social policygrants, links to voluntary organizations)

Place-marketing & culture-led regeneration become the

dominant overall paradigm for achieving regeneration Aim: attract mobile international capital investment, new

industries (tourism, services) & specialized personnel

Draws on US lead in 1980s e.g. waterfront developmentsin Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans

Sustainable regeneration (as with S. development)mixture of meanings: environment only one factor & oftensecondary consideration


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4) Transport & SustainableRegeneration

Transport policy often cited in regeneration plans

BUT multiple goals & usually driven by economic notenvironmental aims

European cities embraced less US-style car-oriented post-warurban development than in UK

Also historical preservation an earlier priority than UK

Left legacy of less car-centred transport systems (e.g. retentionof trams in Vienna, Amsterdam; car-usage controls in Rome)

As env. agenda absorbed, already an existing preference &track record of public transport infrastructure investment

BUT conflicting dimensions to role of transport in EU urban

regeneration in relation to env. sustainability e.g . key role of cheap air travel linkages important Car-free

cities

Consider 2 cases: Rotterdam & Bilbao


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Rotterdam, Netherlands

City-region of 1 million, used cultural strategies from

late 1980s Several major investments in Waterstad area

Festival (1988), theatre, maritime museum, leisurecomplex, reconstruction of harbour, offices

By mid 1990s, perceived as major success: 1000

direct new jobs, 2000 housing units, 100 000 squaremetres of office space

Followed by removal of an urban motorway & itsreplacement with pedestrian area

Significant pedestrianisation of Waterstad & areas

Use of space for craft markets & street theatre

Development of tram metro system, & mixed transportusage (tram, peds, cycles, buses)


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Erasmus Bridge, Rotterdam


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Rotterdam: mixed transport


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Bilbao, northern Spain Bilbao is the core of a metropolitan area of more than

1 million people Suffered major deindustrialization since 1970s

Poor external image & losing out to neighbouringSantander & San Sebastian

1980s: City Council & Basque regional govt beganculturally-centred programme of urban regeneration

Spending more than 10m per annum mid late 1980s

Key elements

Change the image of the city

Transform economic base Environmental improvements

Flagship: Frank Gehrys Guggenheim museum in olddockland area


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Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao


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Role of strong local political leadership

Key aspects of transport: new airport, new metro (2

phases), new roads, new pedestrian routes inc. bridge Transport: 2nd phase of new metro tram system (Dec

2002) attempting to mitigate car usage

Env. goals mixed in & integrated at early stage ofplanning

Transport shift away from private car (better publictransport, encourage peds / cycles)

BUT air travel connection key to international linkage& fly-drive key component of that

Sustainable transport not an explicit goal in projects& only applied where fitted wider regeneration vision


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Tram, Bilbao


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5) Conclusion & Lessons Wide degree of sustainable urban regeneration policy

experience across Europe

Significant success across economic, social &environmental goals

Culture-led strategies key as in UK

Suggest: in Europe transportation historically more

focused on alternatives to car From political leadership & planning phase, greaterpriority (e.g. membership of carfree networks)

European cities offer regeneration example on mixeduse transport, innovation and integrated approach

BUT not all env. sustainable (ie. Budget airlineconnections, car-oriented developments)

Scope for radical thought about env. Impacts ofcurrent sustainable regeneration practice


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Key requirements for applying to UK:

Integrated approach to planning & localleadership

Involvement & agreement of private sectorpartners

Sufficient planning powers: e.g. need for landpurchase and closure / access forconstruction

Incorporation of env. sustainability at earlyplanning / project conception stage


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