Development towards circular urban areas, a proposal for a hybrid conceptual framework

Abstract

Cities today account for approximately 75% of the global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The process of urbanization increases emissions and places an increasing pressure on resources and livability in urban areas. While challenged with the effects of climate change, governments show increasing interest in integrating sustainable development in urban policy. Circular Economy (CE) is proposed as a sustainable development strategy for policy makers. CE is a relatively new introduced concept to deal with resource depletion and efficient energy usage by adapting principles (reuse – reduce – recycle) and strategies. However, too often governments fail to operationalize CE in urban areas.

This research introduces implementation of CE in urban planning, as referred to Circular Urban Area Development (CUAD). A conceptual framework of CUAD is developed, based on a literature review of CE and sustainable urban area development. This lead to the formulation of four categories of urban planning (1) economic experience, (2) households, (3) public space and (4) infrastructure and mobility. These categories are interconnected through flows of resources and energy. Additionally, three layers (micro-, meso-, and macro-level) of CE implementation strategies and policy are incorporated in the framework. The framework is built upon findings, tools and methodologies of three research domains, namely: (1) urban metabolism, (2) stakeholder analysis and (3) future studies.

The CUAD conceptual framework is defined and tested on a single case-study at the Binckhorst, The Hague. The Binckhorst is an existing business area which is selected by the local government for a transition towards a circular working-living area. An analysis is done to the current state of the Binckhorst.

Some conclusions can be made concerning the Binckhorst. With the transition of the Binckhorst, the landscape of the stakeholders as well as the flows will change drastically. The residential units will strongly increase, leading to a shift in needs from the economic experience, public space and infrastructure and mobility. The three levels provide insights in modelling the flows and stakeholders on the appropriate levels and the complexity of closing loops of resources and energy. Observing the process of the backcasting analysis for the Binckhorst, provides the suggestion that implementing CE requires a vision and ambition from the most important stakeholder: the municipality of The Hague. It is suggested the municipality first sets out its ambition and specific goals, followed by involvement and starting the dialogue with stakeholders.

A distinction is made between structural tools and process tools. The literature and the field work point out that implementing CE is a process than a state of affairs. The traditional themes of urban planning are central to the framework. The question is whether these themes should be central point of focus for the framework. Additionally, by introducing a third categorization of the urban planning themes, besides the flows and stakeholder, integration points lack.