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Urban design governance in three Chinese ‘pioneer cities’

Chen, F. and White, J. T. (2021) Urban design governance in three Chinese ‘pioneer cities’. International Planning Studies, 26(2), pp. 130-148. (doi: 10.1080/13563475.2020.1752160)

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Abstract

This paper investigates the formal instruments of design governance and the urban design decision-making environment in Chinese cities. It identifies Shenzhen, Shanghai and Nanjing as three cities pioneering in design-led planning in China and critically evaluates their approaches using a series of ‘best practice’ principles for design review and development management. The findings are based on 20 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, a review of their design portfolios, and an analysis of urban design policies and plans. The paper identifies the progress made with design governance in the three ‘pioneer’ cities as well as the challenges associated with adopting more design-sensitive planning practice. It concludes with four recommendations for Chinese cities. These focus on foregrounding sense of place in city-wide urban design visions, raising the quality of design guidance and codes, more effectively coordinating regulations produced by different government departments and agencies, and widening opportunities for public participation.

Item Type:	Articles
Keywords:	Design governance, urban design, Chinese cities.
Status:	Published
Refereed:	Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:	White, Professor James
Authors:	Chen, F., and White, J. T.
College/School:	College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
Journal Name:	International Planning Studies
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
ISSN:	1356-3475
ISSN (Online):	1469-9265
Published Online:	15 April 2020
Copyright Holders:	Copyright © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor and Francis Group
First Published:	First published in International Planning Studies 26(2): 130-148
Publisher Policy:	Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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Deposit and Record Details

ID Code:	214040
Depositing User:	Professor James White
Datestamp:	16 Apr 2020 09:12
Last Modified:	03 Mar 2022 16:09
Date of acceptance:	1 April 2020
Date of first online publication:	15 April 2020
Date Deposited:	17 April 2020
Data Availability Statement:	No