Integrating Major Community Planning Projects into Urban Renewal for Sustainable Urban Development

Focusing on integrating community planning projects into urban renewal, the research has led to more social sustainability in urban planning. Prof. Edwin CHAN and his team have addressed concerns that development themes of major community facilities or event flagships have not been attuned to the needs of local communities and their historic urban fabric. The high expectation for attracting positive growth in the post-event period of these projects has often been dampened by event legacies that are high maintenance, underused, low in adaptability and isolated from the community. The speedy and multi-disciplinary nature of these projects has not been approved by the necessary government mechanism, leading to delays and cost over-run. Many of these emerging host cities are eager for instant image-building, leaving little concern for the regeneration of the affected community and urban sustainability.

Results of the award winning community planning approach help mitigate community facilities’ development that show an indifference to the needs of local communities. Research on related topics has highlighted the need for a cross departmental coordination unit to facilitate the approval process for development. A Project Coordination Unit has been established by the Hong Kong government’s Development Bureau since May 2013.

A place for the community

The Fishing Bridge as built