Classified Implementation Approaches of Guangzhou’s Special Plan for Urban Renewal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jmsd.202612504

Author(s)

Zhifan Han

Affiliation(s)

School of Architectural Engineering, Guangzhou Institute of Science and Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Abstract

The determination of what to retain, renovate and demolish is the urban renewal process in a mega city. The Guangzhou Urban Renewal Special Plan (2021-2035) allows observing the renewal process on a project basis. It has 497 schemes listed in its appendices which include 206 renewal projects in industrial clusters, 291 in old villages and old towns. The two appendices reveal that each project is carried out regarding district, land area, approach to renewal, type of project, strategic location and period of implementation. Three patterns can be identified in comparing the processes of renewals. Comprehensive redevelopment prevails in the industrial clusters with 116 out of the 206 projects taking up 66.4% of the land area. Micro renewal consists of 70 projects and takes up 481.4 hectare. Demolition is not necessarily the way the city goes. The differences between the old villages and the old towns are striking. It has 252 comprehensive redevelopment schemes all of which are old village projects; 15 of the total number of old town projects take the mixed renewal approach. This same reasoning can be applied to the planning of the renewal process. The number of projects scheduled to occur in 2021-2025 is 104 and they are concentrated in the central districts. Conghua has 14 out of its 18 projects implemented in the long term and all the 65 Huangpu projects are implemented throughout the period. The strategy fits well in the access to the site and the ability of the district. Integrated conservation, renovation and selective demolition is operationalized in the renewal plan.

Keywords

Urban Renewal Plan; Categorized Approaches; Guangzhou

References

[1] Yang J Q. Towards sustainable urban renewal: A rational reflection based on value orientation and complex system. City Planning Review, 2018, 42(6): 68-78. [2] Lai S H, Wu J. Speed and efficiency: Study on the “Three Olds” redevelopment policy of Guangzhou under the background of new urbanization. Planners, 2013, 29(5): 36-41. [3] Zhu Y Z, Wang T. Urban renewal policy change and implementation from the perspective of residual rights: A case study of Guangzhou. Economic Geography, 2019, 39(1): 56-63+81. [4] Wang S F, Yi Z K. Leading urban renewal with institutional innovation. City Planning Review, 2021, 45(4): 41-47+83. [5] Liu Y, Tian Y S, Zhou K B. From unitary decision to pluralistic participation: A case study of Enning Road old city renewal in Guangzhou. City Planning Review, 2015, 39(8): 101-111. [6] Zhao N N, Liu Y T, Liu Z. Community renewal and the governance model of “co-intelligence, co-decision and co-sharing” in the new era. Urban Development Studies, 2019, 26(4): 117-124. [7] Liu Y, Zhou K B, Chen X Y. Implementation evaluation and extended reflection on micro-rehabilitation of old residential areas in Guangzhou. Urban Development Studies, 2020, 27(10): 116-124. [8] Tang J, Tian T. Evolution analysis of land policy objectives and policy tools in urban renewal: A case study of the “Three Olds” transformation in Guangdong. China Land Science, 2024, 38(9): 1-10. [9] Liu Y S, He S J. Model restructuring of urban renewal under financialization: A case study of Guangzhou. Progress in Geography, 2025, 44(11): 2250-2262.