Understanding decision-making in regenerative precinct developments

There is growing consensus that to effectively respond to the urgency of the global climate emergency we require a new model of what it means to be sustainable. Regenerative development provides a compelling alternative by seeking to realign our efforts in a participatory and co-evolutionary relationship with nature to create the conditions necessary for a healthy life into the future. Practical applications of regenerative development have therefore begun to emerge, especially at a precinct scale. However, few studies have investigated the underlying processes and decisions that have enabled their emergence. This paper conducts a qualitative investigation into the decision-making approaches of four case study precincts across Australia that are aligned with regenerative development to provide the foundation to inform future decision-making practices in the built environment. Key findings of this investigation are presented as themes that help provide an understanding of the key decisions that can enable a precinct to achieve its positive value adding potential. These key findings are seen as an important first step towards informing the future development of a decision-making framework for regenerative precinct development.

Automated summary

There is a growing consensus on the need for a new sustainable development model to effectively respond to the global climate emergency. Regenerative development offers a compelling alternative by realigning human efforts with nature to create a healthy future. This paper investigates the decision-making approaches of four regenerative development precincts in Australia, providing insights for decision-making in the built environment. Key findings highlight the importance of certain decisions in achieving the positive value of a precinct, and lay the foundation for a decision-making framework for regenerative precinct development.