The Role of Urban Regeneration in Sustainable Urban Development: Opportunities and Challenges

Urban regeneration is one of the key approaches in contemporary urban planning and management, designed to address challenges arising from the expansion of deteriorated urban fabrics, social inequality, environmental degradation, and infrastructure inefficiencies. This approach is not limited to physical interventions; rather, it encompasses a comprehensive set of social, economic, cultural, and governance-related policies and actions that restore vitality, cohesion, and functionality to urban areas.From the perspective of sustainable development, urban regeneration holds particular importance because achieving sustainable cities requires a balance among the environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Regeneration serves as a platform for realizing this balance. This article reviews both national and international theoretical literature and analyzes the opportunities and challenges of urban regeneration within the pathway to sustainable development. Findings indicate that when properly implemented, urban regeneration can lead to improved environmental quality, enhanced spatial justice, strengthened urban identity, increased citizen participation, economic growth, and greater urban resilience. However, challenges such as financial constraints, forced displacement of residents, gentrification, weak institutional coordination, and stakeholder conflicts may limit its effectiveness. The novelty of this study lies in the introduction of an “Integrated Sustainable Regeneration Framework”, developed through a synthesis of theories, global experiences, and systematic analysis of various dimensions of regeneration. This framework can serve as a foundation for planning, policymaking, and implementing regeneration projects in Iranian cities.

کلیدواژه ها:

Urban Regeneration ، Sustainable Development ، Spatial Justice ، Urban Resilience ، Urban Identity