Partnership structures for urban regeneration: the Iranian experience

Abstract

Urban regeneration has been a key urban policy focus in the UK and other western economies over the past four decades. In developing economies, there have been different drivers but rapid industrialisation, demographic change and economic growth have created urban problems of a different nature, which require innovative policy solutions. In case of Iran, the urgency to address these problems has seen the adoption of urban regeneration as a major instrument of planning policy for the economic and physical transformation of deprived inner city areas over the last ten years.

This research applies institutional theory within an Iranian context, examining the role of newly established and existing institutions involved in policy-making, financing and implementation of urban regeneration. This is achieved through examination of urban governance, public private partnerships and financing arrangements from an international perspective. This knowledgebase is then transferred and evaluated within an Iranian context. The empirical study employs a triangulated research design involving comprehensive interviews with senior stakeholders in the public, private and financing sectors, the utilisation of ten case study projects, a focus group of key decision makers and appropriate datasets dealing with projects.

The study highlights the diminishing capacity of central government in Iran in tackling urban decline in major cities. This intensified the requirement for alternative delivery mechanisms, thus, encouraging private sector involvement and attracting substantive levels of investment. The findings of this thesis emphasise the evolving structure and governance of urban regeneration partnerships and assesses the current balance and role of government intervention. The analysis evaluates urban regeneration financing vehicles and provides an assessment of their performance in achieving sustainable regeneration goals in Iranian cities.

Date of Award	Mar 2012
Original language	English
Supervisor	ALI PARSA (Supervisor) & Stanley Mc Greal (Supervisor)