Regeneration of large urban areas: assessment methods

Large urban distressed areas (LUDAs) are places, present in many European cities, where interlinked social, economic and environmental problems occur at a significant spatial scale. Due to their size, complexity of problems and uncertain future, sustainable regeneration of LUDAs is very difficult. To redevelop LUDAs, rational and effective decision making is necessary, and this needs to be supported by appropriate use of ex-ante assessments (i.e. assessments preceding the implementation of regeneration projects). The aim of this paper is to report work undertaken in the fifth framework programme of the European Commission research project, which investigated the state of knowledge about ex-ante assessment methods on a sample of nine European research institutions and six municipalities. A questionnaire containing a list of ex-ante assessment methods relevant to LUDAs was distributed to question respondents about their theoretical knowledge and practical experience of the methods. The results showed that, while knowledge of assessment methods among researchers and practitioners was satisfactory, practical application was less advanced. The paper highlights a need for the development of ex-ante assessment methods specifically related to economic and structural aspects of urban regeneration and calls for more guidance for urban practitioners on the application of assessment methods.