Monofunctional office areas in the Netherlands have been facing difficulties in recent decades. Obsolescence of buildings causes financial, social and environmental problems for owners, users, municipalities and society. As most office buildings are located in monofunctional urban areas, the problem of obsolescence becomes a structural one on an area level and solutions on a building level are insufficient. This requires a generic solution by transforming the area into a mixed-use location which is more liveable, self-sufficient and future-proof. Urban area transformation is a highly complex process that involves multiple actors, multiple projects and specific risks. This research aims to identify and analyse inherent risks in addition with factors that promote success. The research design is qualitative, based on case studies, semi-structured expert interviews and a questionnaire. The first outcome is an extended risk register that is combined with a success factor register, which increases awareness and can be used as a checklist to manage risks and achieve success factors. Secondly, a framework is designed that can be applied as a tool to manage risks and success factors within the process of transforming urban areas. Finally, general advice is given in form of developers and policy recommendations. Those outcomes help professionals in the field to reduce uncertainty and to successfully transform urban areas, and thus fight obsolescence.