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Place-making Through Stakeholder Participation in the Regeneration of Urban Areas

Martinez-Avila, Carlos LU and Olander, Stefan LU (2026) p.239-257
Abstract

Involving the local community in the late stages of a project offers minimal opportunity for influencing decision-making. Therefore, project managers must act early and establish arenas for participation where dialogue and learning can take place. Early involvement through stakeholder participation can be a way to involve the local community in the early stages of urban regeneration projects. A collaborative approach through inclusive dialogue can serve several purposes: making informed, representative decisions; incorporating local knowledge into policymaking; promoting fairness and justice; and enhancing the legitimacy of participation. This study illustrates the participation process in the planning of a community urban garden in... (More)

Involving the local community in the late stages of a project offers minimal opportunity for influencing decision-making. Therefore, project managers must act early and establish arenas for participation where dialogue and learning can take place. Early involvement through stakeholder participation can be a way to involve the local community in the early stages of urban regeneration projects. A collaborative approach through inclusive dialogue can serve several purposes: making informed, representative decisions; incorporating local knowledge into policymaking; promoting fairness and justice; and enhancing the legitimacy of participation. This study illustrates the participation process in the planning of a community urban garden in Helsingborg, a city in southern Sweden. The urban garden is a community-led project that was supported and integrated by the municipality as part of the neighbourhood regeneration process. A focus group was formed with representatives from various local community organisations, who participated in this process. The participation process can be characterised as one where learning and knowledge exchange took place between the local community, the community planner and the facilitators. The findings suggest that early participation helps address community needs and fosters a stronger sense of place in urban regeneration.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
External Stakeholder Management in Projects
pages
19 pages
publisher
CRC Press/Balkema
external identifiers
  • scopus:105038866330
ISBN
9781032999272
9781041000006
9781003607694
DOI
10.1201/9781003607694-12
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
127a4c1b-8082-400b-b773-b6a9e010bfde
date added to LUP
2026-08-13 16:57:59
date last changed
2026-09-24 19:34:57
@inbook{127a4c1b-8082-400b-b773-b6a9e010bfde,
  abstract     = {{<p>Involving the local community in the late stages of a project offers minimal opportunity for influencing decision-making. Therefore, project managers must act early and establish arenas for participation where dialogue and learning can take place. Early involvement through stakeholder participation can be a way to involve the local community in the early stages of urban regeneration projects. A collaborative approach through inclusive dialogue can serve several purposes: making informed, representative decisions; incorporating local knowledge into policymaking; promoting fairness and justice; and enhancing the legitimacy of participation. This study illustrates the participation process in the planning of a community urban garden in Helsingborg, a city in southern Sweden. The urban garden is a community-led project that was supported and integrated by the municipality as part of the neighbourhood regeneration process. A focus group was formed with representatives from various local community organisations, who participated in this process. The participation process can be characterised as one where learning and knowledge exchange took place between the local community, the community planner and the facilitators. The findings suggest that early participation helps address community needs and fosters a stronger sense of place in urban regeneration.</p>}},
  author       = {{Martinez-Avila, Carlos and Olander, Stefan}},
  booktitle    = {{External Stakeholder Management in Projects}},
  isbn         = {{9781032999272}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{239--257}},
  publisher    = {{CRC Press/Balkema}},
  title        = {{Place-making Through Stakeholder Participation in the Regeneration of Urban Areas}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9781003607694-12}},
  doi          = {{10.1201/9781003607694-12}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}