Evaluating mega urban regeneration projects: developing a new model

With rapid urbanization worldwide, 21st Century cities are undergoing dramatic expansion and regeneration. Urban migration, driven by jobs and other opportunities forwealth generation and economic development, has created the phenomenon of ‘megacities’. Mega Urban Regeneration Projects (MURP) and emblematic projects are deemed as an urban policy solution. However in practice, MURPs, due to their complexity, scale and risk, are often over-budget or late. Besides the risk of waste and high opportunity costs, the other criticism levelled against MURP is their proclivity toconcentrate spatially on privileged enclaves or capital cities. Drawing upon evidence from case studies in the UK and the Netherlands as part of a larger study, this paper first develops a MURP screening framework and then uses it to critically evaluate the Utrecht Station Area Redevelopment project. The proposed model smart-MURP involves ‘institutional’, ‘project’ and innovative ‘funding’ components. The research methodologyis based on qualitative research employing a comprehensive literature review, case studies and interviews with key stakeholders in mega urban regeneration projects in the UK and the Netherlands. The research contributes to the academic urban development discourse and provides practical pointers to policy makers, planners, investors, developers and other stakeholders involved with Mega Urban Regeneration or development projects. The study provides a roadmap to reinforce positive policy pathways and eschew mistakes.

Keywords:

urban development , regeneration , mega projects , evaluation