Case Studies   The Danish Neighbourhood Regeneration Programme. Kvarterløft in Copenhagen

Purpose

The purpose of the Kvarterløft is a holistic and integrated approach to halting negative spirals in urban neighbourhoods facing a concentration of a broad range of problems such as social problems, traffic and environmental problems, worn-down buildings, poorly functioning public spaces, and a lack of local amenities.

In order to confront and remedy these problems, three main ideas are important: Cross-sector efforts, partnership building, and participation.

Cross-sector efforts rest on the belief that synergetic effects can be achieved by action over a broad front in a single urban area, including

• action on the social front - e.g. action to help drug addicts, alcoholics and the mentally ill, together with crime prevention activities
• action on the employment front - e.g. co-operation with local businesses
• action on the architectural and housing front - improvement of housing and beautification of buildings, public spaces and recreational areas
• traffic action - e.g. traffic-calming measures
• ecological action - e.g. incorporating ecological aspects in building and housing refurbishment
• action on the cultural front - e.g. more leisure and cultural activities, new cultural institutions, community centres, etc.

Partnership implies that various public administrative bodies are included, but also that responsibility is shared between public administration, private businesses and local inhabitants. It implies also a strong belief that every neighbourhood has resources on which urban regeneration can be based - in the form, for example, of a good network among the residents or recreational facilities that are at present under-utilised.

Participation and democracy is part of the partnership model, but includes especially the process of including and empowering the (often socially deprived) people in the neighbourhood. The funding model, where a certain amount of money is available from the start of the project and is allocated to specific purposes by the participants, strongly supports the participative aspect.

Apart from the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in the specific Kvarterløft areas, it has been an aim to gain general experience for further development of urban regeneration policies.

Kvarterløft was formerly placed in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, but is now – as this ministry was abolished in 2001 – placed in the Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs, presumably because ethnic integration is a major theme in many of the Kvarterløft districts. Urban renewal in general is now placed in the Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs. Whether and how that will influence the aim of providing experience to back up the future development of urban regeneration policies is still to be seen.

More to read on: http://www.inm.dk (see: The Danish Urban Regeneration Programme).

1.1 The Kvarterløft programme    1.1.2 What kinds of neighbourhoods are included in Kvarterløft?