Community-led regeneration: Applying the experience of the ‘community facilitator’ in Iran to China

Over the last decade, there has been a growing emphasis on neighbourhood regeneration and community participation in China. The focus has been partly on promotion of community involvement in rule-making and decision-making processes. However, the issue of community participation in urban redevelopment has received little attention. In recent years the Iranian Government has placed new emphasis on urban renewal through participatory approaches. In Tehran and some other cities, renovation of deteriorated urban fabric has been initiated through neighbourhood facilitation offices. The facilitation tools guide participation processes over three main steps: (1) intent and belief of the planners and managers on community’s participation; (2) reducing the government’s share in the production system and increasing the role of supervision, guiding and facilitating; and (3) improving societies through building trust and attracting public participation. This paper considers the extent to which local communities in disadvantaged neighbourhoods have a difficulty in making an impact on decisions affecting the neighbourhood redevelopment. The paper concludes that community participation in neighbourhood redevelopment in China remains at the bottom of the ladder of participation. The paper analyses the principles of the facilitation office (local renovation office) in Iran, and it describes how renewal of the deteriorated fabric in disadvantaged neighbourhoods has gone forward. Finally, the paper aims to take advantage of the Iranian experiences in terms of the Chinese context. The discussion in this paper draws on evidence from multiple sources — existing literature, governmental reports and policy documents.