4.1.2. Regeneration

Urban regeneration is another goal which frequently concerns interventions aiming to promote sustainable urbanization and land use. A number of characteristics, such as those that envisage the concept of reuse, support the effectiveness of this type of intervention. This can be seen in many urban regeneration processes, such as: Gründachstadt Linz (Austria), the transformation of green roofs [34]; Réinventer Paris (France), the renovation of underutilized areas; Dublin Docklands (Ireland), the regeneration of brownfield areas [35]; the transformation and renewal of vacant areas in Berlin (Germany)unused since World War II.

Among the characteristics that promote urban regeneration are also those that envisage long-term sustainable targets. For example, since 1998 the United Kingdom has been applying brownfield targets (with at least 60% of new housing to be built on brownfield land by 2008), under the banner of an "urban renaissance" [36].

Improved multilevel cooperation between stakeholders also seems to strengthen the effectiveness of these types of interventions [37]. In Italy, the community-led regeneration process in Casoria produced very positive results in relation to the rehabilitation of abandoned areas and the enhancement of public participation. As stated by the expert reporting this intervention, the vision for the regeneration of a former sulfur mine (the Solfatara) in Manziana, through a collaborative and inclusive stakeholder participation in the context of common land ownership and management, is another interesting Italian initiative. On the contrary, the regeneration and rehabilitation of parts of the Taht-el-Kale Quarter in the City of Nicosia (Cyprus) was perceived as less successful. The initiative was part of a wider sustainable integrated urban regeneration strategy and worked in synergy with various social and cultural projects already implemented in the area. Nevertheless, the intervention was considered as less effective, according to the expert, mainly due to the scarce level of public participation.

The adoption of legally binding instruments often improves the successfulness of regeneration interventions. This is the case of the 2007 zero-growth plan of Cassinetta di Lugagnano (Italy) [38], which prohibits urban expansion in order to keep agricultural land as intact as possible. To do this it facilitates the repurposing of existing buildings and the regeneration of industrial areas. Finally, the adoption of an integrated approach also seems to help interventions to be more successful. This can be seen in the 22@Barcelona (Spain) regeneration program [39], which was well-integrated with the restructuring process of the metropolitan area and the urban policies framework.

It is important to highlight that speculation mechanisms can worsen the level of success of these interventions. Indeed, in contrast to the above cases of successful regeneration processes, some of Istanbul's housing renewal projects (Turkey) were criticized by the expert reporting this intervention for being driven by speculation, leading to high-rise housing in peripheral areas, without social infrastructure and transport facilities.
