4Rs Approach


	The URA's 4Rs strategy is now well established and gaining recognition in the community. The 4Rs are Redevelopment, Rehabilitation, pReservation and Revitalisation which when applied together enable a holistic approach to unlock the full potential of urban renewal. Under this 4Rs Strategy, redevelopment at a project site is used as an anchor around which other complementary modes of urban renewal will take place. For instance, this might involve the redevelopment of a cluster of rundown residential buildings. In the nearby areas, efforts will be made to rehabilitate the old but serviceable buildings, conserve buildings of special interest, preserve historic architecture and revitalise the shopping, leisure and local community activities. Rehabilitation has become increasingly important because, if nothing else, of its potential to produce early improvements to dilapidated buildings, which is exactly what we need if we are to arrest the worsening trend of urban decay. Insofar as revitalisation is concerned, the Authority adopts a ' facilitator approach' by contributing to the improvements of the local infrastructure and urban environment, and working with the local community, especially the business sector, to set in motion a sustained, organic process of economic, social and environmental enhancement in the area.





	To speed up our development planning process and put the 4Rs Strategy fully into practice we have adopted an area-based, rather than an individual project site based development approach by setting our sight, from the outset, on the overall planning and development of clearly delineated Action Areas. With this approach, we will plan for each Action Area to include a cluster of redevelopment sites that will dovetail with a judicious mix of rehabilitation, preservation and revitalisation measures. Each Action Area provides for a focus of URA activities which together will achieve a synergistic impact, creating a positive image of run-down areas which will help leverage more investment from the private sector and elsewhere. This approach also helps the URA in setting priorities based upon a coherent framework for implementation.

Last Update at : 25/05/2005