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A Critique of the Application of Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment Tools in Urban Regeneration

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  • Luke Boyle

    (Urban Real Estate Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa)

  • Kathy Michell

    (Urban Real Estate Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa)

  • François Viruly

    (Urban Real Estate Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa)

Abstract

Neighbourhood Sustainability Assessment Tools (NSA tools) are fast becoming the principal framework for urban planners and developers for promoting urban sustainability. The majority of NSA tools promote a specific type of urban development that effectively excludes regeneration projects from the urban sustainability conversation. Given that the world’s megacities are mostly built, it is argued that it is essential that strategies for global sustainability consider that urban development is focussed internally to address existing, under-serviced communities in particular need of meaningful intervention and sustainable redevelopment frameworks. The paper uses existing knowledge on NSA tools to highlight the shortcomings of outcomes-based approaches to urban governance and builds the case that the technocratic “one-size-fits-all” approach adopted by many tools inadequately accounts for underlying institutional, social and economic arrangements that influence urban development, making them inappropriate for application in both planned and existing communities. The paper proposes that urban redevelopment strategies need to be derived from the urban realities of a particular place or context. Such strategies must be grounded in principles of urban governance, participatory action and an understanding of market dynamics. Without these collaborative procedural frameworks, urban regeneration projects will continue to inadequately transition towards more comprehensive sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Luke Boyle & Kathy Michell & François Viruly, 2018. "A Critique of the Application of Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment Tools in Urban Regeneration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:4:p:1005-:d:138575
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Anna Runge & Iwona Kantor-Pietraga & Jerzy Runge & Robert Krzysztofik & Weronika Dragan, 2018. "Can Depopulation Create Urban Sustainability in Postindustrial Regions? A Case from Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-18, December.
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    4. Rosalie Callway & Helen Pineo & Gemma Moore, 2020. "Understanding the Role of Standards in the Negotiation of a Healthy Built Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-26, November.
    5. Yuchen Guo & Ze Zhang, 2024. "Reducing carbon emissions through green renewal: insights from residential energy consumption in Chinese urban inventory districts from an evidence-based decision-making perspective," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    6. Tanushri Kamble & Sarika Bahadure, 2020. "Neighborhood sustainability assessment in developed and developing countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 4955-4977, August.
    7. Yuqi Zhang & Sungik Kang & Ja-Hoon Koo, 2021. "Perception Difference and Conflicts of Stakeholders in the Urban Regeneration Project: A Case Study of Nanluoguxiang," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-15, March.
    8. Ayomikun Solomon Adewumi & Alex Opoku & Zainab Dangana, 2024. "Sustainability assessment frameworks for delivering Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) targets: A case of Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) UK New Const," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 3779-3791, September.
    9. Doil Kim & Kabsung Kim, 2022. "Financial Support for Neighborhood Regeneration: A Case Study of Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-17, July.
    10. Gerhards, Jan & Greenwood, Dan, 2021. "One Planet Living and the legitimacy of sustainability governance: From standardised information to regenerative systems," SocArXiv z4ja7, Center for Open Science.
    11. Carmela Gargiulo & Antonio Sforza & Claudio Sterle & Floriana Zucaro, 2018. "An Optimization Model Fitting the Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment Tools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-16, September.
    12. Å pela VerovÅ¡ek & Tadeja ZupanÄ iÄ & Matevž JuvanÄ iÄ & Simon PetrovÄ iÄ & Matija Svetina & Miha Janež & Žiga PuÅ¡nik & Iztok Lebar Bajec & Miha MoÅ¡kon, 2021. "The Aspect of Mobility and Connectivity While Assessing the Neighbourhood Sustainability," Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Richtmann Publishing Ltd, vol. 10, May.

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