URSPIC is a research project examining 13 large scale Urban Development projects. In Copenhagen the Ørestad was chosen as case because it is a good example of a comprehensive project which from the start was considered to have a strategic role as a globally and regionally oriented growth dynamo in the transnational Oresund Region. At the same time the Orestad Corporation (partly owned by the State and City of Copenhagen) is an indication of a new way of governing and planning urban development. Since the project yet is in its initial phase of implementation, it has not been possible to say much about the Ørestad project's long term effects on the inequalities on the labour and housing market. However, it has been possible to analyses the interest conflicts in the project's design phase and party in the implementation phase.

European cities are increasingly transforming their economies in order to position themselves in a global competetive environment. The thesis of this research is that large scale urban redevelopment projects promote social exclusion and polarisation. It is examined whether this thesis holds or if, on the contrary, large scale urban redevelopment fosters social integration of citizens into the urban society.

The political, institutional and socio-economical contexts of the thirteen projects were very different. In contrast to other places, the Danish welfare state has partly been able to modify a sharper division between the 'city's winners and losers'. Even though there is a tendency towards a more polarised social geography, the welfare models (including housing policy) make a big difference. In Denmark i.e. integrated area renewal programs ('kvarterløft') brings resources to neighbourhoods which to a large degree bears the social cost of the transformation from the classical industrial city to a post-industrial city like Copenhagen.

Roskilde University
Denmark
John Andersen

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John Andersen, Frank Moulaert and Erik Swyngedouw et al.

research

Urban Policy

Social inclusion & integration