Newton Fund: Adaptive Urban Transformation (AUT) - Territorial governance, spatial strategy and urban landscape dynamics in the Pearl River Delta

This project concerns planning and management for more resilient urban deltas, and in particular, adaptation of the dynamics of urban deltas to address increasing flood risk. The project evaluates innovative territorial governance as an approach to create spatial strategies that may unlock the adaptation options, especially by integrating urban planning and water management, and engaging with stakeholders. The overall aim of the research is to develop an integrative and multiscale design and planning approach for adaptive urban transformation in fast urbanizing deltas. It uses the Pearl River Delta as a case study. The project will combine work in the China, the Netherlands and the UK: (1) to develop a portfolio of integrated adaptation measures based on an assessment of ecological capacity and life cycles of buildings, urban districts and regions; (2) identify potential in territorial governance structures for more integrated approaches and adaptation measures; and (3), develop and test innovative 3D visualisation techniques that facilitate participatory, multi-stakeholder planning approaches. For the first time, established and regular urban transformation processes will be used as opportunities to adapt systems in urbanized deltas at relatively low costs. Furthermore, the research will identify institutional, cultural and financial innovations that are needed in territorial governance to steer the development of urban and rural areas towards more resilient futures. This research provides a unique approach that integrates research in urban landscape systems, territorial governance and visualisation techniques that will help to achieve more integrated and resilient deltas.

Economic and societal value: The project aims to contribute to the development and implementation of adaptive measures and innovations applicable in fast urbanizing delta's worldwide. As such, this project answers to the needs of urban planning authorities who are not only responsible for safety, but also providing space for economic development. Project results will support local economies by defining viable ways of cost effective exploitation of adaptation measures. Knowledge institutes can strengthen their position in the field of sustainable delta design on the national and international market by having access to and using scientifically supported tools and design principles. The project will have an impact both on academia (research and teaching) as well as on public authorities involved in real-world cases of participation and decision-making in planning, design and management. Most importantly, the research will generate ways of understanding and working that include technical and societal stakeholders in the process of formulation and implementation of public policies, programmes and projects for resilient urban planning and management. Therefore this project is supported by the government and other relevant sectors at the regional and municipal level.

Applicability of intended results: Results of the project will be readily applicable in the PRD, and fast urbanizing regions alike that are subject to the adverse effects of climate change and (relative) sea level rise. In the PRD insights in the impact and potential of adaptive strategies and principles for urban landscape development, can be directly put into practice. The project also delivers new ways of 3D visualisation that can directly be used practice to support communication and decision-making in design, planning and management.