Introduction

Denmark's new urban regeneration act enables local authorities to decide to carry out integrated urban regeneration, i.e. urban regeneration in areas with many serious problems - building problems, social and cultural problems and traffic problems. The decisions must be aimed at initiating and co-ordinating measures with a view to creating well-functioning areas and improving general quality of life. A decision on an integrated urban regeneration project is based on an urban regeneration programme. In that connection, the local authority must establish binding cooperation with the parties that are going to be affected by the project.

An urban regeneration programme must contain:

1. a description of the problems and resources in the area
2. a description of local authority and private initiatives with the problem areas mentioned and of how the initiatives are going to be co-ordinated
3. an action plan and a time schedule, including a time limit for completion and a budget showing how the project is going to be finance
4. the decisions must be implemented within 5 years.

Readers' guide

The purpose of this web publication is to support the implementation of future, integrated urban regeneration projects.

First, a number of themes are discussed. The themes can be read in correlation with each other or separately. Here, a description is given of the combined experience gained across countries and regions. The individual themes can be read as separate parts, and they can be copied and used as background material when choosing local strategies.

The examples are marked with different colours. Green means that the idea can be directly transferred to Danish conditions, while grey indicates that we are in the grey zone in which barriers have to be broken down or dispensation has to be sought. Red indicates matters that can be used as inspiration at the conceptual level.

In the second part of the publication, the various examples are described in summarised form, country by country. Readers wishing to gain insight into the general themes and the cross-sectoral aspects of the individual projects are advised to read this part of the publication. A short introduction is also given to different area-based strategies in the various countries.

Next follows a list of contacts persons to contact if one is inspired to visit the projects or obtain more information on them.

The international examples

In both Western Europe and the USA we see examples of neighbourhoods suffering from social problems and lack of investment. They are in a vicious spiral of changes in the wrong direction. Every city has such neighbourhoods, and in many places wholehearted and targeted action is being taken to remedy the problems. Spatial and social marginalisation and socio-economic segregation are high on the political agenda.

Although the strategies adopted differ from one country and city to another, there is a common awareness that the solutions lay in cross-sectional models. Initiatives reminiscent of "area enhancement" and integrated urban regeneration are to be found in many parts of the world, and in some countries more than 10 years' experience with such strategies has been built up.

This publication describes 15 examples from 5 countries: the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland and Scotland.

The examples represent different main strategies and tools, such as different forms of resident involvement, urban ecology and sustainability, identification via art and history, infrastructure, green areas and open spaces, and partnerships between the public sector, the neighbour

In an urban context we have tried to achieve a reasonable spread between:

1. neighbourhoods in the centre of cities, with high density, outdated housing and traffic problems
2. traditional high-rise areas from the first half of the century, with drab, monotonous housing, outdated flat sizes, traffic problems and socio-economic problems
3. multiple-problem suburban estates from the 'sixties and 'seventies with uninspired recreational areas, physical decay, vandalism, social problems and a bad image.

15 selected examples and maps showing geographical location of the examples

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--- Choose an article --- Contents Introduction Cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary cooperation Democracy and broad participation Partnerships Education and information Basic Baseline data and evaluation Identity and diversity Housing and buildings Meeting places Traffic Streets and squares Business and employment Ecology and sustainability The Netherlands Scotland Ireland Germany USA

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