Current Strategies and Socio-Economic Implications of Urban Regeneration in Hungary

In the last decade decision-makers on state, regional and local levels in Hungary gradually recognized the inevitability of urban regeneration and the opportunities the latter offers for architecture, economy and society. During the socialist era state investments focused on the forced construction of high-rise estates and inner city areas have been neglected. As a consequence of these processes urban regeneration started later in the Eastern European countries and these run-down areas could be characterised by disadvantaged positions on the new capitalist housing market. Twenty years after the change of regime stakeholders taking part in the urban regeneration process in Hungary slowly realise that problems of the built, natural and social environments overlap. Due to the change of mind first integrated urban development programmes appeared. Through these projects focusing on the rehabilitation of built and natural environments of cities experts already try to generate also socio-economic impacts. The article highlights current trends and characteristic features of urban regeneration in Hungary together with short introduction of strategies on national, regional and local levels. Main socio-economic impacts of rehabilitation processes closely related to the quality of life will also be presented through the results of empirical researches carried out in Budapest and the major Hungarian cities.