8. Conclusion
8.2. The relationship between urban regeneration and sustainability in Durban
The relationship between the agendas of urban regeneration and sustainability is complex, yet it is vitally important that it is understood in the current era of neo-liberal urban restructuring, where social and ecological concerns are in conflict with the promotion of growth and competitiveness.
Elements of urban regeneration and sustainability were identified within the city’s policy and planning documents, including the Long Term Development Framework (LTDF), the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and the Central Spatial Development Plan (CSDP) within the Spatial Development Framework (SDF), thus highlighting that the planning goals and objectives within the city are concerned with the implementation of both of these agendas within development.
The importance of urban regeneration, as an element of urban restructuring within Durban, is evident in the current development and planning landscape which has emerged in the city. Mega-projects have consequently become an important tool of urban regeneration, as they achieve the aims of re-imaging the city and enhancing its attractiveness and competitiveness, while promoting development in the city. These projects include developments such as sports precincts, shopping malls and waterfronts which formed the focus of this study, in the form of the Moses Mabhida Stadium, the previously proposed Warwick Mall and the Point Development. The definition of mega-projects is however contentious, and there may not be agreement concerning the classification of these projects as
“mega”. However for the purposes of this study, they were classified as such using the chosen definitions.
These mega-projects which have been implemented in the city, and particularly the inner city, have demonstrated locally strategic and entrepreneurial approaches intended to enhance the economic competitiveness of the city in a globalized economy, and to further development at a local level. The three projects were identified as incorporating components of both of these approaches to varying degrees; thereby aiming to transform or enhance an area of the city, through forming part of a broader plan, and thus promoting further change and development, through a locally strategic approach; and to attract investment and tourism, and become more attractive through an entrepreneurial approach.
The Moses Mabhida Stadium was identified as predominantly forming part of an entrepreneurial approach through the focus on becoming internationally competitive; and the Warwick Mall was recognised as being primarily a locally strategic project aimed at regenerating the Warwick area. The Point Development was considered to equally incorporate aspects of each approach, with the intention to be a catalyst for further development in the city, while aiming to provide an internationally attractive waterfront environment.
These locally strategic and entrepreneurial approaches in mega-project development appear to be similar to the concepts of flagship and prestige projects, which were identified in Chapter Three.
Flagship projects are aimed at encouraging growth within specific areas, and therefore have common elements with the locally strategic projects which attempt to promote growth in particular areas of the city. Prestige projects are a type of flagship project which are aimed at promoting economic growth,
attracting investment, and enhancing the image of a city at the local, national and international level.
The entrepreneurial projects which have been identified also embody these goals. The Moses Mabhida Stadium and Point Development would therefore be considered prestige projects, while the proposed Warwick Mall would have been identified as a flagship project. The mega-projects within Durban which were investigated can thus be identified as predominantly prestige projects which occur within the frame of flagship developments.
It has however become evident that the focus on mega-projects in the city is one which is not supported by all citizens. Many criticisms have been raised regarding this development agenda, as it is felt that these large scale projects do not provide the trickle down effects to the poor and disadvantaged citizens which they pledge, and often result in these citizens being pushed out of certain areas. They are thus also criticised for their effect on increasing social polarisation in the city, and for the lack of participation which is included in their planning and development.
Sustainability was recognised as an important concept for the city, however it was noted that its practical implementation has been somewhat lacking within development. It is evident within the policy documents and rhetoric of the city; and some aspects of it were also considered to be addressed within the three mega-projects which were investigated, in terms of the incorporation of some of the sustainable city principles. However it was considered that many of the sustainable city principles were not adequately incorporated, or were not addressed to a significant degree in this urban regeneration strategy. It can therefore be concluded that sustainability is not effectively addressed within urban regeneration in the city, particularly with regard to mega-project development.
Ravetz’s (1996) spectrum of sustainability for urban areas which was discussed in Chapter Two provides a relevant starting point for the determination of what level of sustainability cities have achieved, and what further initiatives are required to enable them to move along a path to becoming more sustainable cities. Durban’s commitment to sustainability in terms of their urban regeneration strategies results in the city being situated at the weaker levels of sustainability in Ravetz’s spectrum, as the focus has been on the more ‘superficial’ elements of sustainability, and the higher levels of the spectrum have therefore not been reached. Durban thus appears to incorporate weak sustainability.
Weak and strong sustainability represent paradigm shifts of differing proportions, and as trade-offs are still being made between economic development and environmental considerations, as well social needs, it appears the city has not moved beyond weak sustainability (Owens, 1994; Gibbs et al, 1998;
Ekins et al, 2003; Gończ, 2007). The city must therefore attempt to pursue strategies which focus it towards the higher level of Ravetz’s spectrum, and therefore stronger sustainability. This further shift to strong sustainability includes a focus on all human activities within the urban system; and requires
a recognition that socio-political systems and the economy are embedded within ecosystems, and that good governance is required to regulate the relationship between these components, as well as the integrity of these relationships (Owens, 1994; Ravetz, 1996; Ekins et al, 2003; Gibson et al, 2008).
It thus appears that despite the emergence of urban regeneration and sustainability as parallel agendas within the city, there has been a lack of co-ordination between them and an imbalance in action, resulting in greater emphasis given to achieving urban regeneration, particularly pro-growth economic regeneration, than to sustainability (Couch and Dennemann, 2000). The neo-liberal pro-growth agenda has thus become dominant in the way in which urban regeneration is undertaken within the planning and development landscape of the city, due to the need and desire to compete in the global economy; and sustainability has consequently been side-lined.
They are therefore currently conflicting, rather than mutually reinforcing agendas within the city. This may result in negative impacts on the development of the city in the long term, and it is therefore imperative that sustainability is included to a greater extent within planning and development. Strong sustainability may be difficult to achieve in the context of a developing country such as South Africa, but there is still a need to strive towards it to ensure a more sustainable city and future.