INVESTIGATING Public Policy on the Process of Renewal and Regeneration of Deteriorated Urban Fabric in Shiraz City

Subject Areas : Urban policy

Reza Mohamadian ¹ , Mohammadreza Ghaedi ^{2 *} , Garineh Keshishyan Siraki ³

1 - Department of Political Science, Kish International Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kish Island, Iran
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
3 - Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2025-05-25 Accepted : 2025-07-31 Published : 2025-10-04

Keywords: Public Policy, Urban Regeneration, Deteriorated Urban Fabric, Sustainable Development, Shiraz City.,

Abstract :

One of the most significant areas within cities is their historical and deteriorated urban fabric. The preservation and redevelopment of these areas depend on a variety of factors, among which public policy plays a crucial role. Shiraz, as a historical and touristic city, contains a substantial expanse of deteriorated urban fabric. This study aims first to assess the current state of public policy related to the regeneration of this fabric in Shiraz and then to analyze and explain the effects of such policies on the existing conditions.The research follows a descriptive-analytical methodology and relies on data collected through a structured questionnaire. The validity of the research instrument was confirmed by expert judgment, and its reliability was verified with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient exceeding 0.70. The statistical population consists of residents of Shiraz, from which 10 neighborhoods within the deteriorated fabric were selected. A total of 380 responses were gathered.The results of hypothesis testing revealed that five types of public policies were statistically significant at a level of 0.000 (p < 0.05). However, the direction of significance indicated that public policy regarding regeneration has generally been weak. Among the five policy domains examined, institutional-managerial policies demonstrated the most favorable outcomes with a mean score of 2.879, while socio-cultural policies showed the weakest performance with a mean of 2.766.The findings suggest that none of the public policy approaches toward regeneration have received adequate emphasis, and the measures implemented so far have been minimal and ineffective. Structural equation modeling (SEM) further confirmed that public regeneration policies can positively influence the conditions of deteriorated urban fabric in Shiraz. Specifically, the total effect of socio-economic policies was estimated at 0.70. In addition, the impacts of economic, environmental, institutional-managerial, and physical-spatial policies were measured at 0.39, 0.77, 0.79, and 0.82, respectively.Moreover, the Kruskal-Wallis test indicated that public regeneration policies did not exhibit statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) across the ten neighborhoods studied, implying a relatively uniform condition across all areas. Therefore, while public policies have the potential to contribute meaningfully to urban regeneration, their effectiveness largely depends on appropriate implementation and oversight mechanisms.

 

Extended Abstract

 

Introduction

With the rapid growth of urbanization in Iran, deteriorated urban fabrics have emerged as one of the most significant challenges for urban management. These areas, which once served as vibrant centers of economic and social activity, are now confronted with issues such as infrastructure decay, declining quality of life, and threats to their cultural identity. In recent years, Iranian urban policymakers have undertaken various initiatives aimed at the regeneration and revitalization of these districts. However, these efforts have often failed due to fragmented policymaking, lack of attention to the cultural characteristics of the areas, and weak institutional coordination. Successful regeneration of such urban fabrics requires a comprehensive approach that simultaneously addresses physical, social, economic, and cultural dimensions. Preserving the cultural identity of historic neighborhoods—through sensitivity to architectural patterns, public spaces, and residents’ lifestyles—plays a crucial role in strengthening urban sense of place and belonging. Shiraz, as one of Iran’s major historical metropolises, faces numerous challenges in this regard. The executive policies for revitalization have largely focused on infrastructure development while neglecting the socio-cultural dimensions. This study aims to analyze the current state of public policymaking and evaluate its impact on the regeneration process of deteriorated urban fabrics in Shiraz.

 

Methodology

descriptive-analytical and quantitative studies. The study is based on the collection of field data. The statistical population consists of residents living in the deteriorated urban fabric of Shiraz. According to available statistics, their approximate number is 50,000. Based on Cochran’s formula, a sample size of 380 individuals was determined, and participants were selected from ten neighborhoods: Hafezieh, Sang-e Siah, Sardazk, Lab-e Ab, Bala-Kaf, Es-haq Beyg, Sarbagh, Darb-e Shazdeh, Lotfali Khan, and Darb-e Masjed. A simple random sampling method was employed for the survey. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire, and data were collected at the individual level.The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts. To ensure the reliability of the analysis, 30 questionnaires were completed outside the main sample, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated. The result exceeded the standard threshold of 0.70, reaching 0.790, which is considered acceptable. Statistical tests were used to analyze the data using SPSS software. It should be noted that the indicators and variables utilized in this study were derived from a review of various previous studies.

 

Results and discussion

Based on the questionnaire data, the level of satisfaction with the neighborhood regeneration and revitalization process is mostly moderate, with 63.9% of respondents expressing this view, reflecting the middle-ground perspective of the majority of citizens. Only 2.3% of respondents reported very high satisfaction, while 10.8% expressed low or very low levels of satisfaction. These results suggest that although the general public's evaluation is moderate, a significant portion holds a positive attitude toward these initiatives. An analysis of various public policy indicators in the revitalization of deteriorated urban fabric, grounded in Iranian-Islamic values, reveals that most average scores fall within the range of 2.7 to 2.9. Indicators such as “participation of diverse groups in neighborhood management” (2.979), “promotion of rule of law” (2.958), and “support for local economic enterprises” (2.976) show better performance compared to others. In contrast, indicators like “pollution reduction” (2.703) and “strengthening identity and sense of place” (2.713) require greater attention. The overall assessment of public policy measures across the five dimensions—socio-cultural, economic, physical, environmental, and institutional-managerial—was examined using the binomial test, which confirmed the significance of differences (p < 0.000). The findings show that the overall mean of the indicators is below the benchmark level (3), indicating weak performance of public policies. Among these, institutional-managerial policies, with a mean of 2.879, are in the best condition, while socio-cultural policies, with a mean of 2.766, are at the lowest level.To assess the impact of public policies on deteriorated urban fabric, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted using AMOS software. All factor loadings were above 0.3, indicating the suitability of the indicators. The final model demonstrated a good fit, and path analysis results show that the overall effect of public policies on deteriorated urban areas is both significant and positive. According to the model’s data, the socio-economic policies (total effect 0.70), economic (0.39), environmental (0.77), institutional-managerial (0.79), and physical policies (0.82) had the highest contributions.

 

Conclusion

The deteriorated urban fabric represents one of the most critical and sensitive zones within the urban landscape, requiring precise and comprehensive policymaking. This study, conducted in the deteriorated areas of Shiraz, reveals that current public policies have largely failed to produce meaningful improvements in residents’ quality of life. Despite a strong focus on institutional, economic, and physical dimensions, insufficient attention to identity-related, environmental, and participatory components has hindered the achievement of intended outcomes. Key implementation challenges include inadequate resource allocation, misalignment with residents’ actual needs, and the absence of effective oversight. Among the various policy dimensions, those aimed at enhancing urban security, improving neighborhood efficiency, and promoting economic diversity were found to have the most significant impact on improving deteriorated areas. Therefore, a critical revision of existing strategies and their implementation mechanisms is essential. Recommendations include strengthening public participation, prioritizing environmental concerns, fostering place identity, and upgrading urban infrastructure to enhance the effectiveness of regeneration policies.

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