A Sustainable and Integrated Approach to Urban Regeneration: Tools and Procedures for a Complex Area in London

In Europe, many regeneration projects are addressed to large urban distressed areas as a result of the dismissal of industrial sites and businesses and ensuing unemployment, poverty, environmental damage and social exclusion. In the attempt to contribute to the development of innovative policies for the integrated regeneration of deprived urban areas, this paper addresses the experience of the London’s South Bank project. Formerly home to factories and working-class houses, a number of integrated projects have converted this area into one of Europe’s most important cultural hubs, known for being packed with artistic opportunities and amenities that attract millions of visitors every year. After a brief description of the process through which the area has been transformed, this paper focuses on the strategies and feasibility factors that have led to a successful regeneration project.