The Planning of ‘Villages-in-the-City’ in Shenzhen, China: The Significance of the New State-Led Approach

Abstract

This article investigates the 'state-led' approach to the planning of villages-in-the-city in Shenzhen City, China. Villages-in-the-city have been regarded as spaces of disorder in Chinese cities because existing planning prescriptions have not been able to address effectively the problems related to their development. An aggressive approach has recently been adopted to the development/ redevelopment of these settlements. This article shows how a new regulatory framework to villagesin-the-city has emerged recently, and how this has impacted on different dimensions of their development.

What is absent from the current monitoring: Idleness of rural industrial land in suburban Shanghai

“…Because the boundaries of collective ownership remain unfixed, it is unclear who actually owns China's rural lands, and how much each rural entity is entitled to (Cai, 2003;Ho, 2001;Tian & Zhu, 2013). Therefore, it is common practice that whoever retains power becomes the de facto owner of rural land and plays a decisive role in its use (Chung, 2009;Liu et al, 2014;Po, 2008). This situation has led to the pervasively informal and disorderly development of rural industrial lands, as is evidenced in urban villages (Zhang, 2011;Zhu & Hu, 2009).…”

Planning for Plural Groups? Villages-in-the-city Redevelopment in Guangzhou City, China

“…In 2000 there were 139 of these settlements in Guangzhou; 45 of them in the city proper (Yangchen Evening Post, 2000). These settlements, as suggested by Chung (2009Chung ( , 2010, represent a space beyond planning prescriptions, featuring a chaotic environment, illegal construction and other unlawful undertakings. Like other Chinese cities, villages-in-the-city in Guangzhou are regarded as an obstacle to the transformation of a modern metropolis, an eyesore in a well-planned city (Nanfang Daily, 2000).…”

“…Therefore, in comparison with the introduction of a master plan for villages-in-the-city redevelopment (such as the Shenzhen model), the Guangzhou system has more space for the government to exercise its discretionary power. If, as argued by Chung (2009), the Shenzhen system represents a new state-led approach, Guangzhou has demonstrated a more traditional state-led approach facilitated by arbitrary power, commands and orders. Despite this, however, strong government capacity has made the 'one village one policy' possible as prescriptive power is concentrated in the hands of the government.…”

“…These settlements are considered a common planning problem in Chinese cities (Zou, 2003;Li, J., 2004), as they not only present a stark contrast to the newly developed, urban, constructions, but are also inhabited by many migrant workers looking for affordable accommodation (Chan et al, 2003). While Shenzhen has developed the country's first master plan for villages-in-the-city redevelopment (Chung, 2009), the model has not been used by other cities that have similar problems. Indeed, different cities have developed their own system for the planning and development of villages-in-the-city.…”

Strategies for Regeneration of Urban Villages in Hometown of Oversea-Chinese

“…These included (a) increased accessibility by adding pedestrian bridges and new traffic links with Xiasha's surrounding areas; (b) building a promenade to link Xiasha and the nearby mangroves to promote tourism; (c) adding underground facilities such as car park; (d) improving the cultural square; (e) widening and a face-lift for some streets in the village; (f) demolishing some old blocks and redeveloping the site into a hotel-commercial-residential cluster including a building which is to be the new landmark of the village; and (g) building European style houses to replace existing residential buildings. These are to be implemented in separate stages [14].…”