Examining the Challenges and Barriers to Public Participation in the Process of Reconstruction and Design of Deteriorated Urban Fabrics in Tabriz City

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Urban Planning, Ta, C, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.

2 Department of Urban Planning, Ta, C, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.QTUF

3 Department of Architecture, Ta, C, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Urban regeneration and the redesign of deteriorated urban fabrics can only succeed when decision-making and intervention processes are grounded in genuine public participation and citizens’ trust. In Tabriz, past experiences have shown that institutional weaknesses, complex administrative procedures, and the absence of constructive communication between urban management and residents have hindered effective public participation in renewal projects, leading many initiatives to stagnation or failure. This study was conducted with the aim of identifying and analyzing the challenges and barriers to public participation in the reconstruction and design of dilapidated urban areas in Tabriz. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research sought to provide a comprehensive understanding of the inhibiting factors and potential pathways for enhancing participation. The qualitative phase, based on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with experts, revealed nine central themes: weak supportive regulations, institutional inefficiencies, insufficient social capacity-building, low social capital, poor information and educational processes, lack of prior participatory experience, ineffective monitoring systems, administrative complexity, and low public trust in urban management. The quantitative findings confirmed these themes and demonstrated that together they weaken citizens’ perception of participation and reduce their willingness to engage in urban renewal projects. The study’s main theoretical contribution lies in illustrating that sustainable participation in deteriorated urban areas can only be achieved when institutional reform, procedural transparency, and social trust-building are pursued simultaneously. Accordingly, the results of the research have significant practical implications for three groups: urban policymakers and managers in designing new participatory governance structures; urban planners and designers in formulating people-centered intervention strategies; and local institutions in strengthening social capital and community education. The findings ultimately show that any effective regeneration effort in Tabriz will remain unachievable unless the relationship between urban management and the public is fundamentally rebuilt.

Highlights

  • The study shows that sustainable public participation in the regeneration of deteriorated urban fabrics in Tabriz requires simultaneous institutional reform, transparent administrative processes, and the rebuilding of social trust.
  • The results indicate that weak institutions, complex regulations, low social capital, and limited capacity building collectively reduce citizens’ perceived effectiveness of participation and their engagement in renewal projects.
  • Third, using a mixed-methods approach and structural equation modeling, the research proposes an integrated, context-specific framework of nine key barriers to public participation in the regeneration of deteriorated urban areas in Tabriz.

Keywords

References

  • Arnstein, S. R. (1969). A Ladder Of Citizen Participation. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 35(4), 216–224. https://doi.org/10.1080/01944366908977225.
  • Bagheri Haredasht, M. Ramazanipour, M. Bozorgmehr, K. (2023). Evaluating the role of people's participation in the renovation of worn-out fabric (case study: Rasht city). Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas, 4(2), 79-94. https://gsma.lu.ac.ir/article_707936.html?lang=fa. [In Persian]
  • Blaikie, N., & Priest, J. (2019). Designing social research: The logic of anticipation. John Wiley & Sons. https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Designing+Social+Research%3A+The+Logic+of+Anticipation-p-9781119163848.
  • Davidson, S. (1998). Spinning the wheel of empowerment. Community Planning, 3, 14–15. https://participationpool.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Davidson-S.-1998-Spinning-the-wheel-of-empowerment.pdf.
  • Driskell, D. (2002). Creating Better Cities with Children and Youth: A Manual for Participation (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315071930.
  • Gashi, S., Kaspar, H., & Grosse Holtforth, M. (2025). Interrelationships of diverse forms of social participation and their associations with basic psychological needs among older adults in Switzerland. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, Article 1577513. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1577513.
  • Ghazi Mirsaeed,S. M. , Dadrasy,E. and Khedmati Shad,Z. (2025). Structural analysis of production and reproduction trends of deteriorated fabrics in Islamshahr city in order to identify key drivers of regeneration. Journal of Sustainable Urban & Regional Development Studies (JSURDS), 6(1), 159-182. https://www.srds.ir/article_213384.html?lang=en. [In Persian]
  • haghpanah, M., karimi, B. and Mahdi Nejad, J. (2022). Effects of Physical and Social Factors on the Participatory Improvement of Worn-out Textures; Case Study: Nader Kazemi Neighborhood of Shiraz. Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development, 14(37), 239-251. https://doi.org/10.22034/aaud.2020.237878.2249. [In Persian]
  • Hedayatnezhad Kashi, S. M., Zolfani, S., Ghane, M., Antucheviciene, J., & Trinkūnas, V. (2025). Development drivers for urban regeneration and livability in worn-out neighborhoods. International Journal of Strategic Property Management, 29(1), 81–92. https://doi.org/10.3846/ijspm.2025.23585.
  • Jamshidi,R. , moosavi,M. , Faramarzi Asl,M. and Jamali,S. (2022). The Impact of Social Participation in the Process of Recreating the Old Texture of Cities (Case Study: Zone 4 of Urmia City). Geography, 20(74), 145-163. https://mag.iga.ir/article_246577.html. [In Persian]
  • Javadzadeh Bolouri, L. (2022). Challenges of construction management in worn-out urban fabrics (Case study: District Nine Darreh, Mashhad) using the SWOT technique. Scientific Research in Civil Engineering and Architecture of Iran, 7(26), 1–17. https://racj.ir/user/articles/1225[In Persian]
  • Karimzadeh, M. (2023). Investigating the role of public participation in the regeneration of deteriorated urban fabrics with emphasis on the role of municipalities: A case study of Khoy. Journal of Modern Research in Geographical Sciences, Architecture and Urban Planning, 5(44), 229–239. https://civilica.com/doc/1855660/. [In Persian]
  • Ledwith, M., & Springett, J. (2010). Participatory practice: Community-based action for transformative change (1st ed.). Bristol University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1t89038.
  • Li, H. (2023). Public participation in China urban planning development. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Public Relations and Social Sciences (ICPRSS 2023). SHS Web of Conferences, 178, 03004. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/202317803004.
  • Li, H., Yang, X., & Niu, S. (2025). What nudges residents' funding-participation behavior in urban settlement regeneration? A perspective of evolving social network. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 112, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107813
  • Nikpeyma M, Zarei M. (2019). Barriers to Participation in Urban Plans from the Perspective of Citizens’ Behavioral Patterns in Qazvin’s Bolaghi Neighborhood. refahj. 19(74), 369-418. https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.17358191.1398.19.74.8.3. [In Persian.]
  • Ramezani, H, Khanloo, N. and Soltanzadeh, H. (2021). Factors influencing the tendency and participation of worn-out residents in the implementation of Infill development (Case study of District 12 of Tehran, Sangalaj neighborhood). Journal of Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design, 9(2), 214-199. https://doi.org/10.22061/jsaud.2021.7904.1885. [In Persian]
  • Rasoolnazi, S, Naghibi, F. and Khosronia, M. (2022). Investigating the role of public and local capacities in Regeneration dysfunctional urban fabric (Case study: The worn texture of Urmia). Human Geography Research, 54(1), 131-154. https://doi.org/10.22059/jhgr.2020.305401.1008135. [In Persian]
  • Said, Z. M., & Dindar, S. (2024). Key challenges and strategies in the evaluation of sustainable urban regeneration projects: Insights from a systematic literature review. Sustainability, 16(22), 9903. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229903
  • Samani nezhad, M. J. Khodakaramian gilan, N. and Niazi, M. (2023). Systematic Review of the Dimensions and Indicators of People’s Participation in the Renovation and Improvement of the Worn-Out Fabric Using Meta-Synthesis Method. Physical Social Planning, 10(1), 41-58. https://doi.org/30473/psp.2023.65838.2635. [In Persian]
  • Shen, C., Wang, Y., Xu, Y., & Li, X. (2024). Unveiling citizen-government interactions in urban renewal in China: Spontaneous online opinions, regional characteristics, and government responsiveness. Cities, 148, 104857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.104857
  • Sheydayi, A., & Dadashpoor, H. (2023). Conducting qualitative content analysis in urban planning research and urban studies. Habitat International, 139, 102878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2023.102878.
  • Sondou, T., Dotsu, M. Y., Anoumou, K. R., Samon, S. P., Chenal, J., & Aholou, C. C. (2025). Urban planning through participatory democracy: Analysis of citizen participation in urban planning in Ho (Ghana) and Kpalimé (Togo). Sustainability, 17(3), 1161. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17031161.
  • Tahmasebizadeh,F. (2022). analysis of facilitators and limiting participation of citizens in neighborhood planning: case study of isfahan city. Journal of Urban Studies on Space and Place, 6(24), 95-115. https://doi.org/10.22034/jspr.2022.702071. [In Persian]
  • Xiao, J. (2019). Key success factors for the public participation effect of old city reconstruction projects. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 603(5), 052034. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/603/5/052034.
  • Yang, J., Yang, L., & Ma, H. (2022). Community Participation Strategy for Sustainable Urban Regeneration in Xiamen, China. Land, 11(5), 600. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11050600.
  • Yue, H., Wei, Y., Yuan, H., & Li, H. (2025). Revitalizing urban industrial heritage: Enhancing public trust in government through smart city development and open big data analysis using artificial neural network (ANN) modeling. Cities. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.105538.
  • Zamani, B. and Asadpour, H. (2023). Meta-analysis of the obstacles to the manifestation of Urban regeneration projects in Iran. Geographical Urban Planning Research (GUPR), 11(2), 75-97. https://doi.org/10.22059/jurbangeo.2023.355628.1799. [In Persian]
  • Zhou, T., Zang, T., Jiang, J., Yang, X., & Ikebe, K. (2023). Analysis of the influencing factors of social participation awareness on urban heritage conservation: The example of Suzhou, China. Sustainability, 15(3), 2713. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032713.
Iranian Urban Design Studies
Volume 2, Issue 2 - Serial Number 4
January 2026
Pages 47-74

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 19 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 14 June 2025
  • Accept Date: 29 June 2025
  • First Publish Date: 30 December 2025
  • Publish Date: 20 January 2026

Share

How to cite

Statistics