relation: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/4622/
title: Voices from the city: strategies for inclusive participation in urban redevelopment
creator: Vos, Rens
description: Residents feel unheard. This is happening in the Netherlands and also in other European countries. Participation is seen as a means to give residents a say in decision-making. However, participation is not experienced as inclusive since highly educated retired men—the so-called ‘usual suspects’—are the group that is overrepresented in participation. At the same time, youth, ethnic minorities, working parents, and the silent majority are underrepresented. This gives an incomplete picture of the desires and needs of a neighbourhood and its community. Especially within urban redevelopment, when existing neighbourhoods are revitalised and renovated.  This research aims to investigate factors in the participation process that foster inclusivity in urban redevelopment projects in the Netherlands. To this end, the following research question was formulated: Which actions could municipalities include in the participation process to foster inclusivity in urban redevelopment in the Netherlands? Whereby inclusivity is defined as groups that are underrepresented in the participation process or groups that deserve extra attention to get involved. To answer this research question, three case studies have been conducted. These are the Schinkelkwartier (Amsterdam), Merwede (Utrecht), and the Binckhorst (The Hague). Data is retrieved from policy documents and semi-structured interviews with municipal employees or professionals involved in the participation process. A conceptual model is developed with a literature review regarding urban redevelopment, inclusivity and participation. Whereby the CLEAR framework is used for data analysis. The CLEAR framework is an acronym for can do, like to, enabled to, asked to and responded to.  The results show the importance of actively engaging groups of citizens, which is helpful with issues regarding inclusivity. Furthermore, groups of citizens tend to have preferred methods of being invited to participation as a preferred method of participation. Besides, being accessible for help and approaching specific residents in public spaces or at their homes can ensure more inclusivity. This thesis concludes with measures that municipalities can implement to become more inclusive.
date: 2024
type: Thesis
type: NonPeerReviewed
format: text
language: en
identifier: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/4622/1/VosRensFinalThesiss3797260.pdf
identifier:   Vos, Rens  (2024) Voices from the city: strategies for inclusive participation in urban redevelopment.  Master thesis.