This report will try to find answers to the complex question of how neighbourhood reputations can be improved. A negative neighbourhood reputation can harm residents’ health, well-being and opportunities. It can also be a catalyst for decay. Changing a reputation is complex, and governmental approaches often reinforce a negative image. This research will result in an analytical framework and pattern language that urban planners, designers, and policymakers can use to give them tools to tackle stigma. The basis for the research lies in the literature, often from social studies. An empirical case-study research on the Bijlmer and Woensel-West will test and enrich the theoretical research. Neighbourhood reputations take place in a symbolic, social and physical space, and changes should be made in all three spaces to tackle a negative image. This report explores and analyses different aspects which influence the symbolic, social and physical spaces and their interrelations. This will result in an analytical framework that gives a clear overview of what aspects should change to change the reputation. The pattern language will give easily digestible concrete solutions on how the reputation can be changed. The pattern language consists of discursive, physical and policy interventions to change the analytical framework’s different components. The aspects that influence the symbolic space are history, discourse, experiences and how the government represents itself towards the neighbourhood. The aspects which influence the social space are the socio-demographic characteristics, social problems, behaviour and culture. The aspects which influence the physical space are the location, accessibility and services, maintenance and quality and the diversity of types and types of the urban fabric. The governmental program influences what part which influence the neighbourhood’s reputation is worked on, contributing to the effectiveness of changing the image. Whilst the governmental organisation contributes to the efficiency of tackling the image. The most important factor influencing the neighbourhood’s reputation is the discourse about the neighbourhood. The discourse is often based on social problems the neighbourhood is dealing with. The basis of these social problems is often the socio-demographic characteristics of the neighbourhood, especially when there is an accumulation of low-income households. The diversity and types of dwellings can influence the socio-demographic characteristics. The other influences named do influence the neighbourhood’s reputation. Nevertheless, they are not the main influences which seem to be the basis of a negative reputation.

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“Building a Fair Transition” strives for a fair circular built environment in the Dutch province of South Holland. By 2040 South Holland aims to have built 210.000 new dwellings to meet the rapidly growing housing demand. This transition in the built environment should align with current climate agreements and be as energy neutral as possible. To meet these goals, a lot of material and renewable energy are needed. However, the current linear economy creates inequalities for current and future generations. Therefore, radical changes towards circular construction and the demolition sector are needed. At the same time, energy poverty is an issue that calls for immediate actions in order to make the much-needed transition truly sustainable. Nevertheless, the country lacks a comprehensive measurement framework that considers social aspects to address the phenomenon. The main research question is how to manage the transition in South Holland towards a circular built environment while ensuring that this transition is done in a fair way. In order to make this possible, a tremendous change in organisational structures is required. An interscalar approach is needed to create a symbiosis betweenthe regional scale and the actions needed at a local level. In this work, bottom-up initiatives are encouraged and embraced within a bigger top-down mainframe. Through an assessment analysis, the goals towards a sustainable built environment are classified into three categories: materials, energy and knowledge. These goals will strengthen the social foundation of our report and fit the ecological ceiling that all development must respect. In our work, phasing of interventions is based onthe urgency needed. In that sense, actions are prioritisedin the most vulnerable areas while pilot projects serve as the research ground for testing feasibility and potential upscaling. The most urgent areas will be addressed first according to the criteria of low liveability, building energy performance, low income and ownership status.The overall goal of this strategy is to create a just sustainable built environment characterised by circular material flows and fair energy transition. More precisely, the aim is to strive for affordable and adequate housing for all, a regenerative and stable labour market and knowledge exchange. Concerning material flows, the target of closed material loops is achieved through renewable raw materials used, upcycling of wasteflows and optimal use. Finally, democratisation of energy has become a key theme. Supply and demand for renewable energy sources is controlled to minimise energy losses. A decentralised energy system enables every citizen to become a prosumer of energy leading thus to democratisation of energy. ... Read more