Spatial improvement strategies for deprived neighbourhoods

Since 2007 strategies are made for improving the worst 40 deprived neighbourhoods in the Netherlands. However, a spatial diagnosis tool is missing. Therefore, space syntax analyses were carried out of all 40 neighbourhoods in 2012. Various micro and macro scale tools were applied. The Space Syntax method was used to analyse the macro scale relationships in the neighbourhoods, whereas the micro scale tools is developed by the author in an earlier research project on space and crime.

As it turns out from the analyses, the deprived neighbourhoods can be classified in four groups, based on their spatial properties. These groups do not only provide a good classification of the different spatial properties of the neighbourhoods but also show that spatial properties, social composition of dwellers and building style are inter-correlated.

This contribution aims to bring these research results further into the urban renewal and planning discussion. The challenge is to find a way to communicate the research results to various practitioners dealing with or intervening in the built environment. The findings on the relationship between urban space and urban safety need to be made understandable and applicable for everyone. The outcome is a design and strategic planning checklist on how to plan and design a safe and vital urban area based on research results.