Managing brownfield land in stagnant land markets

Shrinking cities are considerably challenged by stagnant urban land markets. Formal urban planning systems and instruments, developed to control urban grow and land development in the 1970s, are poorly adapted to manage situations where there is little or no pressure for development. Urban decline with failing property markets, the lack of integrated management strategies based on solid land information together with the inadequate use of planning instruments and financial incentives are major challenges for shrinking cities and regions. Examples of good practices and the ABC model for land management are presented here to show how brownfield land can be managed more effectively and sustainably.