Brownfield Regeneration as a Strategy for Sustainable Development: Amman Case Study

Abstract

Brownfield regeneration has a positive impact on the quality of life in several dimensions, which enhances the livability and vitality of a city. On the contrary, Amman suffered from intensification of abandoned, derelict sites in the city center, along with severe deficiencies in terms of database and regeneration policy. Therefore, this research study aims to develop a flexible strategy for brownfield regeneration to encourage efforts toward implementation. This initially started by exploring all the brownfield sites in Amman in general and then those located in dynamic, vibrant locations in specific. Four case studies were selected, which included abandoned buildings within an urban setting. Spatial analysis was performed on case studies, including basic descriptive analysis, contextual analysis, and strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats analysis, which helped recognize the opportunities and challenges associated with different sites. The strategies were discussed further by several experts through the Delphi technique, where data were collected from relevant stakeholders to highlight the brownfield regeneration terminology in terms of definition, familiarity, opportunities and risks, governmental role, and policy availability, along with recommendations to improve the practice. Finally, several strategies were developed on the basis of collaboration between stakeholders. These strategies are hard to be generalized to all sites in different regions, as each one has specific issues that need to be considered. Therefore, further studies need to be conducted to validate the results of this study, foster the implementation of brownfield regeneration, and promote sustainable development by reducing urban sprawl and encouraging compactness.

Keywords

• brownfield regeneration
• delphi technique
• spatial analysis
• sustainable strategies