The Use of Land Development Concessions in the Dutch Urban Regeneration

This study considers the benefits that could arise from the introduction of land development concessions in Dutch urban regeneration. The process of urban regeneration is a complex assignment that is generally characterized by stagnation. The nature of the land development concession concerns that public and private parties cooperate together in an agreed development plan for a relatively long term (20-30 years). This paper first briefly looks at the primary factors that generate the current stagnation from an institutional point of view. Following a brief assessment of the origins, we explore if the length of the partnerships based on land development concessions can guarantee a more fluent process. The sharing of costs as well as (long term) benefits might stimulate the willingness of involved parties to cooperate. The paper compares different kinds of existing concession models in Dutch urban regeneration, as well as potentially powerful models that are rooted in foreign countries (Germany, UK and Denmark). The question is whether these instruments are successful as well as if these are able to fit in the Dutch institutional context. The authors give some suggestions to improve the process by institutional structuration. The paper concludes by a reflection on the power of partnerships in redevelopment.