Urban regeneration and sustainable development – an attempt to assess a sustainable character of revitalisation processes in Poland

Abstract

A study conducted for the purposes of the article aimed at assessing the degree of sustainable development achieved in the urban regeneration processes carried out in Poland. It covered a study of urban regeneration programmes adopted in the cities with poviat rights, where these processes are regularly monitored. Based on the analysis and interpretation of these documents, on the grounds of a methodology created for the purpose, the conducted processes were assessed in the context of the sustainable development principles. The aim of the article is to answer following questions: (1) to what extent the implemented projects fit into this paradigm, (2) to what extent they contribute to its achievement, and, more generally, (3) how to examine the issue of sustainable development in regeneration processes – as the current study is the first such research in Poland. The study which proves that, for the moment, the revitalisation activities are not too advanced, nor too harmonious, should lead to further, more in-depth research on the subject.