“Urban regeneration projects in the eyes of the stakeholders: POLIS intervention in the city of Leiria (Portugal)”,

Abstract

During the last decades urban rehabilitation and regeneration programmes have been carried out in major urban areas, in order to promote better environments, to find solutions for derelict areas, and to improve city brand. These programmes have aimed at transforming urban landscapes for the better notably by improving the relation of the urban population with its everyday landscape. Also in Portugal 28 cities underwent urban regeneration projects by the application of a publicly supported and funded venture – the POLIS programme. Within these projects, public space has been favoured including the creation of almost 600 ha of urban green areas that included 73 km of riverfront. In the city of Leiria the POLIS intervention focused on the 7 km long corridor of the Lis river crossing the city. Thus, the objective of the study presented here, is to assess the success of this intervention by addressing citizen satisfaction with the new river landscape. Methodologically a local stakeholder panel was questioned about critical issues regarding the intervention. Thus, the interviews recorded a variety of perceptions concerning the changes in Leiria’s urban landscape, the promotion of quality of life, as well as, the attractiveness and competitiveness of the city. Even though the changes in the urban landscape are generally valued positively, as compared to its prior condition, specific projects were assessed more critically. It is also considered of major relevance that stakeholders were able to formulate future projects that should build on this intervention, and that could increase its value for the urban population. The results emphasize that the community needs to be adequately integrated throughout the process, in order to improve the success of the interventions, and thereby creating a more sustainable landscape.