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How can the spontaneous renaturation of brownfields contribute to sustainable urban regeneration while integrating ecological, social, and economic objectives? The study examines the potential of spontaneous renaturation in brownfields, with the purpose of valorising the ecological regeneration methodology.
The rapid deindustrialisation of the 20th century left behind a vast number of brownfield sites, profoundly reshaping urban landscapes across the world (Adams et al., 2010). Often characterised by environmental contamination and degradation, brownfields have contributed to socioeconomic decline (Mikelbank, 2008), reflecting broader demographic and planetary urban shrinkage trends. Furthermore, both human and non-human populations are impacted by their ecological degradation, which has serious health repercussions (Bambra et al., 2014). Despite these challenges, brownfields present a strategic opportunity for sustainable urban redevelopment (Jacek et al., 2022).
In line with European directives, such as the EU Soil Strategy 2030 and the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, brownfields have often been redeveloped to contain urban sprawl and limit land consumption. Their transformation, however, has mainly served commercial and residential purposes (Preston et al., 2023). Nevertheless, given the ongoing global environmental crises, it is imperative to re-think these spaces as ecological resources (Graham & Healey, 2017). Land consumption and biodiversity loss, two of the main consequences of uncontrolled urban sprawl and human activities, weaken the capacity of cities to sustain resilient ecosystems and exacerbate their vulnerability. Ecological regeneration of brownfields is therefore crucial for sustainable urban planning reducing environmental impacts while fostering livable and adaptable cities.
In this context, the contribution explores how brownfields that have developed an intrinsic ecological value over time can be preserved and integrated into urban development, shaping regeneration projects in synergy with ecological preservation and fostering urban resilience. Brownfield ecological regeneration is not only a response to environmental challenges but also an opportunity to innovate urban design on a global scale (Kirkwood, 2001): classic remediation approaches are often too costly, time consuming and have high impact on the economics of the project, so much that they are themselves a constraint on the realization of transformations. Moreover, traditional remediation techniques and regeneration strategies frequently pursue invasive interventions focused solely on contaminant removal, aiming to restore an idealised “clean” condition — often neglecting subsequent urban development contexts. Rethinking these processes raises the question of whether spontaneous renaturation offers an added ecological value. Observing natural ecological evolution and regeneration in brownfields could inspire sustainable urban design strategies that reconcile city development with emergent territorial dynamics.
Through the comparative analysis of three case studies the paper analyses the motivations behind the choice of strategy and explores the environmental, social and economic reasons why it may be a preferable solution in certain circumstances. Focusing on the potential value deriving from more natural management of contaminated sites and its integration into urban policies—despite significant differences in regulations and practices internationally—, the contribution does not seek to provide a universal assessment but to extrapolate the logic and potential of this type of regeneration. This investigation is part of the PE3 RETURN research project, funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan - Spoke TS1, Task 5.4.4 "Towards a circular metabolism for urban and metropolitan settlements".
The selected case studies—Liberty State Park (Jersey City, USA), Gas Works Park (Seattle, USA), and La Goccia Park (Milan, Italy)—illustrate how local communities, in collaboration with urban planning initiatives, can transform brownfields into functional ecological resources. Particular attention is given to the interaction between ecological and urban needs and how these can be reconciled in degraded areas redevelopment. Recent studies suggest that spontaneous renaturation is both an environmental asset and a powerful tool for strengthening social cohesion (Graham & Healey, 2017).
References
Adams, D., De Sousa, C., Tiesdell, S. (2010) Brownfield development: A comparison of North American and British approaches, Urban Studies, 47(1), pp. 75-104. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098009346868
Bambra, C., Robertson, S., Kasim, A., Smith, J., Cairns, J., Copeland, A., Finlay, N., Johnson, K. (2014) Healthy land? An examination of the area-level association between brownfield land and morbidity and mortality in England, Environment and Planning A, 46, pp. 433-454. https://doi.org/10.1068/a46105
Graham, A. and Healey, P. (2017) Urban regeneration and the governance of sustainability, Urban Studies, 54(10), pp. 2435-2453.
Kirkwood, N., (2001) Manufactured Sites: Rethinking the Post-Industrial Landscape. ISBN 9780415510813
Jacek, G., Rozan, A., Desrousseaux, M. and Combroux, I. (2022) Brownfields over the years: From definition to sustainable reuse, Environmental Reviews, 30(1), pp. 50-60. https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2021-0017
Mikelbank, B. (2008) Spatial analysis of the impact of vacant, abandoned and foreclosed properties.
Preston, P. D., Dunk, R. M., Smith, G. R. and Cavan, G. (2023) Not all brownfields are equal: A typological assessment reveals hidden green space in the city, Landscape and Urban Planning, 229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104590
| Keywords | Ecological regeneration; metabolism; biodiversity; brownfield |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
