Introduction

Urban regeneration is an endogenous development approach aimed at creating balance in population distribution, coordinating access to social services, and reducing urban poverty through social participation and leveraging existing urban planning capabilities. Due to the complexity of urban regeneration programs, their nature significantly differs from other urban development initiatives. These programs involve multiple stakeholders and beneficiaries, including government organizations, private sector developers, and local residents, which complicates the process. Public participation in this process leads to increased social capital, a sense of belonging to a place, and accountability towards the locality. Therefore, participation in regeneration projects is essential and can contribute to their feasibility.
Considering the theoretical foundations and experiences of the urban regeneration approach, the lack of theoretical development in this area in Iran has resulted in mere imitation of global experiences. In recent years, concepts and mechanisms for public participation and groundwork for creating coordination among various departments and organizations, as well as integrated management, have gained attention. However, what has not yet been realized is the participation of residents in regenerating their living areas. This issue stems from a lack of trust in the urban management system and the hesitance of planners and urban managers to recognize the capabilities of citizens in decision-making and determining local development strategies. Furthermore, the absence of civic education and the failure to transfer information from urban management to citizens, along with the lack of social education infrastructure for residents, alienation from the decision-making bodies, and the exclusion of people from the power structures for neighborhood development and wealth distribution, are also contributing factors. These issues highlight that the role of community and social-political structures in urban regeneration programs in Iran has been overlooked.
Given the existing challenges in the realm of participation, a less addressed question is whether such an approach can be implemented similarly in cities and neighborhoods with differing social, economic, and cultural characteristics. Moreover, can social participation help achieve a better understanding of the issues within target areas for urban regeneration and lead to the selection of optimal solutions? It seems necessary to pay more attention to what type of participation can be constructive and how to consider the interests of various groups through participation.
The present research is descriptive-analytical and applied. Given the characteristics and dimensions of the study, a library-documentary method has been employed for data collection and analysis. The analysis has been conducted using a comparative approach. The process of planning the Joadiye neighborhood in Bojnord has been carried out with a participatory approach in six stages: assessing the neighborhood's status, identifying local problems, formulating an ideal vision for the neighborhood, developing spatial goals and strategies, policy-making, and finally, implementing actions.
 

Methodology

In order to examine the urban regeneration plan in the Joadiye neighborhood and the extent and type of citizen participation, relevant information regarding this plan has been selected as the statistical population. To assess the level of citizen participation and identify the factors influencing it, as well as the preferred participation model of the citizens, a questionnaire was randomly distributed among the residents. For determining the sample size, Cochran's formula and the methodology proposed by Adam (2020) were employed. Considering a confidence level of 90% and a margin of error of 0.5, the sample size for the Joadiye neighborhood, which consists of 1,253 households, was determined as follows:
Sample Size: N = 221
After completing the questionnaires, the obtained data were systematically coded and entered into SPSS software for statistical analysis. To identify the factors affecting participation and develop the final research model, multiple regression analysis was conducted following the examination of correlations among the identified variables. This research is descriptive-analytical and applied in nature. For data collection, both library-documentary methods and questionnaire completion were utilized, and the data were analyzed using comparative and inferential methods. These approaches assist researchers in gaining a better understanding of the factors influencing citizen participation in urban regeneration processes and in providing suitable strategies to enhance such participation.

Results

The results from the modeling indicate a significant relationship between the level of trust in authorities, familiarity with the urban regeneration plan, and the willingness to participate in the planning process. Additionally, fostering relationships among neighborhood residents and creating opportunities for presence in public spaces within the neighborhood can enhance citizens’ willingness to collaborate and brainstorm about identifying neighborhood needs and developing development programs. This, in turn, can serve as a step toward the renovation and improvement of the neighborhood.
 

Discussion

Based on the findings obtained from the research model, the impact of various variables on the preferred methods of citizen participation in urban regeneration is clearly observable. The following points are presented as key findings of this study:
Neighborhood Connections: The closer and more amicable the relationships among neighbors, the greater the willingness to participate in addressing local issues. This highlights the importance of creating and strengthening social ties among residents to enhance participation in local activities. Participation in public meetings and conversations with fellow residents are considered effective tools for reinforcing these relationships.
Willingness to Remain in the Neighborhood: Residents who have less inclination to stay in their neighborhood and are more likely to consider leaving it exhibit a lower sense of responsibility towards local issues. This results in a diminished willingness to engage in regeneration initiatives. Therefore, fostering a sense of belonging and permanence within the neighborhood can be one of the strategies to increase participation.
Belief in the Impact of Opinions: Individuals who believe that their opinions can influence projects are more likely to participate in regeneration efforts and collaborate in neighborhood revitalization, especially when informed about the details and processes involved. This indicates that communication and transparency in decision-making processes can enhance motivation for participation.
Trust in Local Authorities: The positive relationship between trust in local authorities and the willingness to cooperate in neighborhood renewal and improvement suggests that the greater citizens' trust in officials and their programs, the more likely they are to engage confidently in revitalization projects. This trust can manifest as individual actions or investments in development initiatives within the neighborhood. Overall, these findings emphasize the importance of strengthening social relationships, fostering a sense of belonging, ensuring transparency in decision-making processes, and building trust between citizens and local authorities to enhance citizen participation in urban regeneration projects.

Conclusion

The reasons for the lack of a collaborative framework in urban regeneration documents can be summarized as follows
Introduction of the Concept of Participation Without Necessary Pre-conditions: The concept of participation and participatory planning has been introduced into the country's planning structure abruptly, without establishing the necessary infrastructure.
Mismatch Between Participation Models and Political Structure: The designed participation models do not align with the political structure and planning framework of the country, leading to ineffective participation.
Neglect of Past Experiences: The failure to analyze and learn from past trends and the reasons for unsuccessful projects in achieving their defined goals results in the repetition of mistakes and new failures.
Cultural and Social Diversity: Structural social and cultural differences within Iranian society, along with a lack of attention to these contexts in defining the concept of participation, contribute to the challenges in its implementation.
Lack of Attention to Individual Capabilities: Ignoring individual abilities and capacities for social action and the realization of participation is another reason for weakness in this area.
Unclear Status of Citizens: The status of citizens in the planning process is not clearly defined, creating ambiguity that hinders their active participation.
Dominant Role of the State: The prominent presence of the state and affiliated institutions at all stages of planning reduces the necessary space for effective citizen participation.
Low Public Awareness: The general public's awareness regarding planning processes and the role of citizens within them is low, which impedes their active involvement.
Low Level of Public Trust: Public trust in governmental institutions and planning processes is low, which negatively affects citizens' willingness to participate.
These factors collectively hinder the establishment of an effective framework for participation in urban regeneration processes, necessitating serious attention and reforms in policies and approaches.
Acknowledgments
This article is derived from the PhD thesis of the first author titled “Explaining the role of participation in the regeneration of urban fabrics: a case study of the city of Bojnord”, which is being conducted at the Faculty of Urban planning, college of Fine Arts, University of Tehran.