Urban Regeneration in Europe

This book provides a comparative account of the process of urban regeneration and examines the factors influencing these processes, as well as the consequences of their implementation. Through a mixture of theoretical discussion and a series of case studies a thorough examination is made of the extent to which these different European old industrial conurbations are facing similar problems.

This book provides a comparative account of the process of urban regeneration and examines the factors influencing these processes, as well as the consequences of their implementation. Through a mixture of theoretical discussion and a series of case studies a thorough examination is made of the extent to which these different European old industrial conurbations are facing similar problems.

Contributors xiPreface xvAcknowledgements xviiAcronyms xix1 Introduction: the European Context and Theoretical Framework 1Chris Couch and Charles FraserThe contemporary European context 1Issues in international comparative urban research 6Research methodology 9The choice of localities 13The structure of the case studies 162 Change in the European Industrial City 17Charles FraserThe origins of the industrial city 17The decline of the industrial city 19The case for intervention 22National policy responses 24The impact of the European Union 30New challenges 31The response to the challenge 333 Urban Regeneration in Liverpool 34Chris CouchThe city centre and docklands 37Vauxhall and North Liverpool 49Conclusions 544 Dundee: a City Discovering Inclusion and Regeneration 56Greg Lloyd and John McCarthyIntroduction 56Historic context 58Decline and change 59Revival 59Culture, partnership and regionalism 65Emerging agendas 67Conclusion 685 Urban Regeneration in Belfast 69Stephen McKayHistorical background 69Recent population changes 71Political context 72Belfast City Council 74Planning 76Housing 78Urban regeneration 78Economic growth 82Conclusion 846 Lille: from Textile Giant to Tertiary Turbine 85Charles Fraser and Thierry BaertDecline and the seeds of renewal 87A changing image in the Nord 89Economic restructuring 90The Channel Tunnel 91Administrative reform 92The spatial planning context 93The development results 94An international profi le 97Case studies 98The evolution of French regeneration 106Summary 1077 Rotterdam: Structural Change and the Port 109Chris CouchRenewing older inner-city neighbourhoods 110Rebuilding and maintaining the city centre 116Kop van Zuid 118Conclusions 1248 Belgium: the Case of Wallonie 126Charles Fraser and Luc MarechalHistorical background 126A new beginning and a new programme 129The process in action 132Summary 1349 Milan: the Bovisa District 135Corinna MorandiThe historic context 135Decline and change 138Revival 141Emerging agendas 146Notes 14810 The Ruhr: from Dereliction to Recovery 149Susan PercyBackground 150Regeneration and development in the Ruhr region 151Emscher Park International Building Exhibition (IBA) 156Conclusion 16511 Economic and Physical Infl uences on Urban Regeneration in Europe 166Chris CouchGeographical location 166The strength of the regional economy 169The use of land and buildings 174Conclusions 17912 The Institutional and Financial Conditions of Urban Regeneration in Europe 180Charles FraserAdministrative structures 180Political processes 187Financial structures 189Summary 19813 New Agendas 200Susan PercyGlobalisation and place marketing 200New industries and links to education 203Social exclusion 204New alliances and partnerships 205Promoting sustainability 207Conclusions 20814 Review 210Charles Fraser, Chris Couch and Susan PercyBibliography 217Index 227