Brownfields: A Geographical Perspective

Bohumil Frantál, Stanislav Martinát
2013 Moravian Geographical Reports  
The issues of remediation, regeneration and redevelopment of underused, abandoned, derelict and often contaminated lands and premises (so-called "brownfields") have recently become one of the greatest challenges for municipal planners and developers. Brownfields are results of economic restructuring processes in many countries; they are perceived as potential hazards to human health and the environment, burdens degrading the value of surrounding properties, barriers to local development and
more » ... ributors to urban sprawl, grounds for neighbourhood crime and other illegal activities, etc. (see e.g. Greenberg et al., 2000; Susilawati, Kelsey, 2012) . The regeneration of brownfields has become more common during the last two decades since vacant developable land (or "greenfields") is less available, more expensive and more protected in densely populated areas and as a result of emerging policies, economic instruments, and management tools supporting the regeneration processes. The increasing number of projects and research platforms, which are supported by the European Commission or by national authorities, demonstrates the increasing interest of policy makers, too. On the other hand, as the global economic recession (or at least stagnation) proceeds, investments fall, many industries disappear or are moved to countries with lower labour costs -new brownfields emerge and redevelopment is still constrained by many barriers at economic, legal, political, social and technological levels. The regeneration of brownfields is a complex and multidimensional problem that requires further interdisciplinary research. Such research should involve a variety of disciplines, such as technical sciences, environmental science, human and physical geography, economics, management and marketing, political science, sociology, law, etc. It should apply integrated approaches to create a vision of change across different stakeholder groups (politicians, developers, local communities, NGOs, researchers, experts, etc.) as well as across departmental and administrative boundaries, which constitute the scope of landscape planning and decision making to manage the required redevelopment processes as cost effective, profitable and economically, environmentally and socially sustainable.
doi:10.2478/mgr-2013-0006 fatcat:dvozp2wtave2dmo6yg4rulgkwu