Polytechnic school of architecture and town planning, Algiers, Algeria

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1 The environmental dimension in the urban regeneration project of bardo s neighborhood in Constantine: Towards an environmental assessment of planning documents Speakers: Boudjadja, Rafik 1 ; Chabbi-Chemrouk, Naima 2 1 Polytechnic school of architecture and town planning, Algiers, Algeria 2 Polytechnic school of architecture and town planning, Algiers, Algeria Abstract: In their contemporary spatial dynamics, Algerian cities are both negatively marked by the existence, constantly maintained, of large degraded areas whose redevelopment is burdened by environmental constraints, and positively, by programming major urban projects : new cities, streetcar lines, subways, university centers, business districts, which by their urban, economic, and social effects, seem to engage the concerned responsible in a sustainable development process through: urban renewal and regeneration operations, redevelopment of degraded neighborhoods, and reclaiming brownfields. The main issue of this paper is to focus on the relevance of current and new urban evaluation provisions, regarding the inclusion of the environmental dimension, and to examine their effective implementation, in an urban regeneration project, situated in a central area in Constantine (Algerian eastern capital). In other words: is it important to make an environmental assessment of planning documents? What is the purpose behind it? And how to do it? Key words: environmental dimension, environmental assessment, urban regeneration, brownfields, planning documents, sustainable development. Environmental dimension and urban regeneration 1 project of Bardo s neighborhood in Constantine: a failed marriage! 1 In Algeria, urban regeneration appears in the SNAT (National Planning Scheme) in 2030, in the fourth guideline whose objective is "to ensure the upgrading of territories disability and anticipate upgrading areas that can be outrun by the competitiveness sgame." 1

2 It is in the context of the modernization project of Constantine city called: PMMC, that the Bardo s regeneration project was initiated. It is a big regeneration operation which is close to the center of Constantine. It juxtaposes the original nucleus of the city, is to say that it is attached to the medina, the rock (see fig 1). Therefore, Bardo s neighborhood can be considered to be in the city center because no limit or barrier (physical, economic, urban...) is interposed between it and the medina. In short, the project objective is to demolish a degraded strong environmental constraints neighborhood, and rebuild a modern district called "Little Dubai" to integrate it in the urban functionning, and ensure the transformation of the town as advocated by the SNAT 2, a "[...] qualitative Algerian town, competitive, attractive and sustainable, able to meet the needs of its inhabitants and of productive mutations that contribute to a culture and urban identity" (1) Figure 1: situation and limitations of Bardo s neighborhood (Authors) However, actions delays to be realized, the regeneration project launched in 2008 can not take up! The inability and failure of planning instruments that should guide the intervention from "Urban regeneration" associated with "the city s policy" constitue the same title of the Territorial Action Programme (PAT18), the major challenge is to "restore the city in its functional dimension and create favorable conditions for a sustainable city." Urban regeneration focuses on the urban tissue made; it aims the redevelopment of suburbs, unhealthy housing districts, urban wastelands and enhancement of historical and cultural heritage, urban landscape and public space. It relies on a set of operations to rehabilitate buildings, elimination of inadequate housing, improving access to services, accessibility and communication, conversion of old buildings and restoration. 2 In Algeria, the revival of the country planning policy is crystallized through an instrument called SNAT by the horizon of 2030, which will be supported by regional plans called SEPT. 2

3 the perspective of environmental valuation are pointed out. We have proved that in a recent Magister 3 research, which their syntheses were (2): The planning instruments do not include planning and urban regeneration projects in their areas of intervention 4. Do not provide and anticipate the means of implementation of the environmental dimension in the local area. Chronological disarticulation in their development, which led to a planning process dislocation. Constraints related to the understanding of environmental dimension and sustainable development concepts. Lack of laws governing urban regeneration in Algeria. Aware of local planning instruments failures, Constantine s public authorities dive into an hesitant policy, and prefer to freeze the project for an indefinite period, in which the revision and adaptation of planning instruments to new environmental requirements is considered as a priority. However, the manner and purpose of the recent revision have not yet integrated the environmental dimension in their action plans and content! This is due to the noneffectiveness of the local context not always convinced of the use of modern and effective evaluation methods for revision. Through this paper we want to help local authorities and all the planning stakeholders to shed light on "the environmental assessment of planning instruments" as a new approach to decision-support for making adaptation and integrating the environmental dimension in all regeneration project stages. Environmental assessment objectives: The environmental assessment of planning documents is not an afterwards impacts evaluation once the document prepared, but an integrated assessment in the development of the document and its revision, called " beforehand ". It is an approach to decision-support that prepares and supports the construction of the planning document and can adjust it throughout its development. But also, this evaluative approach (3) is considered as a basis for urban planning document designed as a sustainable development project planning. (see fig 2) 3 Magister research in Architecture and Environment in the LAE laboratory, Polytechnic School of Architecture and Town Planning of Algiers. Title: "the environmental dimension in the urban regeneration project in the district of Constantine Bardo" The local planning instruments are called PDAU : they express the appearance of what is wanted. It defines the purpose of the sites, it provides equipment to perform, following the "theorized" practice of equipment grid. And POS : adopt a regulation of land rights: here, it is forbidden to build, there we should not exceed four levels. the two instruments are reduced to a functionalist approach completely obscuring the environmental, economic and social dimensions of the city and neglecting any approach to the urban reality. 3

4 Environmental assessment principals: Figure 2: Environmental assesment objectives (Authors) To fully play its role as a decision-support, evaluation must accompany the planning document s development. It helps to translate environmental stakes in the regeneration project, and anticipate potential impacts of the planning document. A phased approach: By questioning the regeneration project in relation to environmental stakes, iteratively, as and when it is built and accurate (4). The objective is that the planning document will be nourished by the answers. For this, it is essential that questions must be asked at the good moments. The different phases of the environmental assessment should also be considered in close connection and meet each other. It is the same for parts of the report presentation retracing these steps. 4

5 Figure 3: the process of environmental assessment of planning documents (Authors) How to conduct the environmental assessment? Initiate the process: The environmental assessment must continuously accompany the urban planning document elaboration, its terms must be defined at the same time as the document itself, the table bellow explains the initiation process of environmental assesment: steps Initiate the process of environmental assessment of planning instruments Prepare the assessment and establish its Establish a review of the previous document specifications implemented jointly with the and pre-identify the environmental stakes planning document determine and know * monitoring and control Instances * Project management * approach development and planning * The topics to be treated and data to mobilize * The area (or areas) of study * Coordination with other approaches *Which environmental stakes were identified and how they were translated in the guidelines and provisions of the planning document? *In which measure environmental guidelines and provisions have been implemented in practice? With which results? Which possible difficulties encountered? *Which environmental potential impacts are recognized today and had not been anticipated? Table 1: initiation process of environmental assesment (Authors) Identify the brownfield s environmental stakes : The brownfield initial state of the environment is a fundamental step that determines the quality of the entire evaluation process. It has a dual purpose. Giving an objective view of the 5

6 country s environmental stakes, it contributes to the construction of urban regeneration Project (see fig 4). Figure 4: environmental themes of the initial state of the environment (Authors) Supporting the elaboration of the planning document: At each stage of the planning document construction, the assessment contributes to adapt it by analyzing the potential impacts of its implementation and ensuring that environmental stakes are taken into account. The two steps described bellow can be applied to both management scenarios inter alia, major urban regeneration projects: a- Decrypt the planning document or scenarios: This first step should consider thereafter all the possible consequences of the planning document (or scenarios) as environmental issues regards. It involves the identification of the document components generating pressures or environmental effects, which may have an impact or effect on the territory. 6

7 Figure 5: impacts analysis principles (personal reproduction on paper environmental assessment of planning documents guide (CGDD, 2011). b- Questioning the guidelines and provisions in relation to environmental stakes: Once the planning document components or scenarios and their effects identified, they must confront the territory s environmental stakes, questioning according to the following schematic principles: Figure 6: Principles of questioning guidance (CGDD, 2011) (5) Check the internal coherence: The assessment helps to translate urban territory environmental stakes in the document. It must also verify that the translation is consistent between all the parts that make up the document and that the provisions will be easily relevant.it is based on: the translation of environmental stakes into policy for the planning document, and planning arrangements for the paper, but also spotting the various conflicts and contradictions between policy and provisions in relation to environmental issues. 7

8 Ensuring external coherence: The presentation report shall describe the articulation between the PDAU or POS with a number of other plans, programs and planning documents. It should also explain the choices made in terms of "the goals of environmental protection established at Community, national or international level." It is not easy to make an afterwards verification, but to ensure coherence, complementarily or synergy between public policies implemented at different scales. Prepare subsequent monitoring: After its approval, the implementation of the planning document, particularly its impacts and environmental provisions, should be monitored and evaluated. This will verify the assumptions made during the evaluation and provide the means to adapt the document and its implementing rules, continuously, depending on the results of this monitoring. Conclusion: The environmental assessment of planning documents is a process that contributes to sustainable development of territories. The fact questioning the appropriateness of planning decisions upstream of the regeneration project implementation is part of a crucial goal: to prevent environmental impacts and consistency of choice. At the scale of a PDAU or POS, environmental assessment looks at all potential or management decisions concerning the territory, and thus the sum of their environmental impacts, unlike the impact study that will analyze each project individually. Observing the nature, types and different inherent actions to brownfields within the major urban regeneration projects. We realize that the process of reconquest is highly strategic and precise, requiring specific procedures and actions, but also effective and efficient instruments to face the new environmental planning requirements, this process can be only integrated in a framework of a comprehensive approach to a sustainable urban project. For this reason, the environmental assessment of local planning instruments is a new strategy for the integration of environmental considerations into all stages of the project, even before its completion. Hope that we have provided communities in charge of developing planning instruments (planning consultants, agencies, government departments...), as well as actors and organizations, with the necessary elements to understand the objectives and interests of the environmental assessment, and the key to effectively lead this process of complex appearance. However, in practice, it is still possible for decision-makers effectively to ignore the EA (6) References: (1) Ministry of Spatial Planning, Environment and Tourism. (2010) National Planning Scheme SNAT Synthesis Report. Algeria. 8

9 (2) Boudjadja, R. (2014) The environmental dimension in the urban regeneration project of Bardo s neighborhood in Constantine. Polytechnic school of architecture and town planning. Algiers. (3) Reynard, E. (2013) Regeneration of brownfield and Sustainable Development: Towards an integrated assessment to the project dynamic. Presses universitaires de Louvain. (4) CEAA : Canadian environmental assessment agency. (2014) Basics of Environmental Assessment. Western Economic Diversification Canada. URL: (5) CGDD: General commission for sustainable development. (2011) an environmental assessment of planning documents guide. Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing (MEDDTL). France (6) Wood, C. (2003) Environmental impact assessment: a comparative review. Routledge, New York, USA 9