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Planning and Designing Livable and Sustainable Regions: Integrating Urban and Regional Perspectives

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A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Contexts and Urban-Rural Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 May 2025) | Viewed by 16328

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yuan Yuan

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Guest Editor

School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
Interests: healthy community and community planning; urban planning and urban development

Prof. Dr. Yang Xiao

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Guest Editor

College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Interests: built environment; spatial assessment; social health;community governance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Jianxi Feng

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Guest Editor

School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University, Hankou Road 22, Nanjing 210093, China
Interests: health cities; urban and regional planning

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

According to the United Nations, most of the World’s population lives in urban areas, with the proportion projected to reach 68% by 2050, which has led to great changes in the economic development pattern, population structure, social transformation, climate change, ecological environment, etc. At the stage of high-quality development, livable and sustainable development is adapted to the needs of the urban and regional development transition period. Urban and regional planning and designing are essential, especially when guided by the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable (United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11). Currently, there is a growing consensus across many academic fields that practice decisions can have a significant impact on the economic, environmental, and social wellbeing of regions. Along with cities and regions becoming increasingly interconnected, the challenges of achieving livable and sustainable development are becoming more complex. Research gaps remain that need to be addressed before the benefits of livability and sustainability can be fully integrated into the development of optimal urban planning and policies.

This Special Issue, titled “Planning and Designing Livable and Sustainable Regions: Integrating Urban and Regional Perspectives”, is dedicated to highlighting the latest advances in our understanding of the new findings (such as leading factors, influences, and mechanism), tools (such as artificial intelligence, geospatial analysis, computer modeling, and simulation), and perspectives (such as resilience, livability, and equity) of planning and designing regions in a livable and sustainable context.

This Special Issue welcomes the submission of manuscripts that link the following themes:

New findings and perspectives on livability and sustainability in urban and regional planning and designing;
Innovative approaches and tools for urban and regional planning and designing in the livable and sustainable context;
The effects and mechanism of planning and designing livable and sustainable regions;
The relevant implications of economic, environmental, and social urban and regional planning decisions.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Prof. Dr. Yuan Yuan
Dr. Yang Xiao
Dr. Jianxi Feng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

livability
urban and regional planning
urban design
regional development
spatial planning
urban and regional resilience
community and neighborhood
habitat
human settlements
sustainable development goals

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 5284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Dark Sky Conservation into Sustainable Regional Planning: A Site Suitability Evaluation for Dark Sky Parks in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area

by Deliang Fan, Zidian Chen, Yang Liu, Ziwen Huo, Huiwen He and Shijie Li

Land 2025, 14(8), 1561; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14081561 - 29 Jul 2025

Viewed by 428

Abstract

Dark skies, a vital natural and cultural resource, have been increasingly threatened by light pollution due to rapid urbanization, leading to ecological degradation and biodiversity loss. As a key strategy for sustainable regional development, dark sky parks (DSPs) not only preserve nocturnal environments but also enhance livability by balancing urban expansion and ecological conservation. This study develops a novel framework for evaluating DSP suitability, integrating ecological and socio-economic dimensions, including the resource base (e.g., nighttime light levels, meteorological conditions, and air quality) and development conditions (e.g., population density, transportation accessibility, and tourism infrastructure). Using the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as a case study, we employ Delphi expert consultation, GIS spatial analysis, and multi-criteria decision-making to identify optimal DSP locations and prioritize conservation zones. Our key findings reveal the following: (1) spatial heterogeneity in suitability, with high-potential zones being concentrated in the GBA’s northeastern, central–western, and southern regions; (2) ecosystem advantages of forests, wetlands, and high-elevation areas for minimizing light pollution; (3) coastal and island regions as ideal DSP sites due to the low light interference and high ecotourism potential. By bridging environmental assessments and spatial planning, this study provides a replicable model for DSP site selection, offering policymakers actionable insights to integrate dark sky preservation into sustainable urban–regional development strategies. Our results underscore the importance of DSPs in fostering ecological resilience, nighttime tourism, and regional livability, contributing to the broader discourse on sustainable landscape planning in high-urbanization contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Planning and Designing Livable and Sustainable Regions: Integrating Urban and Regional Perspectives)

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31 pages, 345 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Limits of a Success Story: Rethinking the Shenzhen Metro “Rail Plus Property” Model for Planning Sustainable Urban Transit in China

by Congcong Li and Natacha Aveline-Dubach

Land 2025, 14(8), 1508; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14081508 - 22 Jul 2025

Viewed by 641

Abstract

Land Value Capture (LVC) is increasingly being emphasized as a key mechanism for financing mass transit systems, promoted as a sustainability-oriented policy tool amid tightening public budgets. China has adopted a development-led approach to value capture through the “Rail plus Property (R + P)” model, drawing inspiration from the Hong Kong experience. The Shenzhen Metro’s “R + P” strategy has been widely acclaimed as the key to its reputation as “the only profitable transit company in mainland China without subsidies.” This paper questions this assumption and argues that the Shenzhen model is neither sustainable nor replicable, as its past performance depended on two exceptional conditions: an ascending phase of a real-estate cycle and unique institutional concessions from the central state. To substantiate this argument, we contrast Shenzhen’s value capture strategy with that of Nanjing—a provincial capital operating under routine institutional conditions, with governance and spatial structures broadly reflecting the prevailing urban development model in China. Using a comparative framework structured around three key dimensions of LVC—urban governance, risk management, and the transit company’s shift toward real estate—this paper reveals how distinct urban political economies give rise to contrasting value capture approaches: one expansionary, prioritizing short-term profit and rapid scale-up while downplaying risk management (Shenzhen); the other conservative, shaped by institutional constraints and characterized by reactive, incremental adjustments (Nanjing). These findings suggest that while LVC instruments offer valuable potential as a funding source for public transit, their long-term viability depends on early institutional embedding that aligns spatial, fiscal, and political interests, alongside well-developed project planning and capacity support in real estate expertise. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Planning and Designing Livable and Sustainable Regions: Integrating Urban and Regional Perspectives)

20 pages, 2832 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying Spatiotemporal Circles of Residents’ Daily Walking in Historic and Modern Districts: An Empirical Study in Nanjing, China

by Rui Wang, Hengliang Tang and Yue Chen

Land 2025, 14(7), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071321 - 21 Jun 2025

Viewed by 558

Abstract

The study explores the features of spatiotemporal circles of residents’ daily walking. Through a survey of residents’ walking activity in 16 residential communities, the walking purpose, distance, time, and speed of different residents were analyzed, and the circles of residents’ walking activities in historic and modern districts were identified. It is found that residents’ walking activities showed obvious spatiotemporal and individual differences. Walking activities on weekdays mainly focus on short distances (0.5–1 km) and short duration (5–15 min) for commuting and basic needs, while walking activities on weekends tend to be longer distances (more than 2 km) and longer duration (15–40 min) for leisure purposes. There are significant differences in distance and speed between walking activities in the historic and modern districts, with residents of the historic districts walking a smaller range but more diverse destinations, and residents of the modern districts walking to a wider range but fewer types of destinations. The study provides a scientific basis for multi-circle planning strategies of community life units, and it contributes to the localized adaptation of the “15-minute city” concept by revealing how historical and modern districts shape distinct spatiotemporal circles for walkability in Chinese cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Planning and Designing Livable and Sustainable Regions: Integrating Urban and Regional Perspectives)

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26 pages, 8543 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential Assessment and Community Environment Support Strategies for Social Interaction, Based on the Spatiotemporal Behavior of Accompanying Elderly Migrants: A Case Study in Hangzhou

by Zhi Qiu, Bo Jin, Binwei Yun, Zhu Wang and Xincheng Pu

Land 2025, 14(5), 1043; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14051043 - 11 May 2025

Viewed by 516

Abstract

With the growing trend of population mobility and the aging process in China, a significant number of accompanying elderly migrants have moved to major cities. However, in community public spaces, the behavioral differences between caregiver-oriented elderly migrants (CO-AEMs), family reunion-motivated elderly migrants (FR-AEMs), and local elderly residents hinder social interactions between these groups. This study aims to explore opportunities for cross-group social interaction within the community environment. By utilizing GPS data collection and activity log analysis, along with spatiotemporal behavioral research methods, this study reconstructs the spatiotemporal trajectories of three groups of elderly individuals. The study proposes a social interaction potential (SIP) model based on the “support-constraint” framework. Through qualitative analysis of spatiotemporal behavioral characteristics and quantitative measurement of the degree of spatiotemporal behavioral co-occurrence across four modes, this study reveals the differentiated impact mechanisms of spatial and behavioral factors on social interactions, ultimately assessing SIP in differentiated community spaces and activities. This research highlights differences across spatial, behavioral, and temporal dimensions that hinder social interactions between the groups. Spatial and behavioral differences are primarily attributable to the lifestyle habits and activity preferences of the elderly, while temporal discrepancies reflect varying degrees of family-related constraints across the different groups. Furthermore, informal community public spaces show higher SIP than formal facilities. Additionally, the similarity in behaviors across groups facilitates social interactions. FR-AEMs and local elderly residents show higher SIP in self-care behaviors, while CO-AEMs and local elderly residents demonstrate stronger SIP in behaviors related to their family and grandchildren. Based on the segmented assimilation theory, this study proposes hierarchical community governance and spatial optimization strategies for activities and spaces with different SIP. The aim is to cultivate opportunities for interaction while respecting the characteristics of accompanying elderly migrants and to foster the construction of an inclusive community environment. The findings provide theoretical support and practical pathways for community space planning and social governance in the context of an aging society. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Planning and Designing Livable and Sustainable Regions: Integrating Urban and Regional Perspectives)

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15 pages, 3733 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Regional Centres and Intra-Regional Peripheral Zones in Poland

by Piotr Gibas and Krystian Heffner

Land 2025, 14(4), 850; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040850 - 13 Apr 2025

Viewed by 918

Abstract

The new EU Cohesion Policy for 2021–2027 aims for inclusive and sustainable growth to address regional disparities by improving transport connectivity, digitalisation, and social inclusion, thereby reducing peripheral isolation. It is intended to provide development tools and enable investments in green and digital transitions to integrate peripheral areas more effectively with their development centres. This study assumes that, considering the EU cohesion policy objectives, regional centres (in Poland, centres of administrative territorial units named Voivodeships) should exert significant economic and social influence over their administrative regions. This aligns with both classic spatial concepts of socio-economic development and contemporary approaches to sustainable development. The research aimed to assess the extent to which regional centres are connected to their regions and their impact on the entire regional hinterland, particularly on municipalities outside the agglomeration system. The study identified municipalities that lack the influence of regional centres, creating zones with challenging socio-economic development conditions (based on the road network and the population potential of the Huff model). The analysis reveals that the highest probabilities are observed near Warsaw (Mazowieckie voivodeship; 0.7548) while the lowest are around Olsztyn (Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship; 0.6763). The deepest depression in terms of usage of the regional capital is observed in the Zachodniopomorskie voivodeship. In this voivodeship, municipalities in the internal peripheries have an average probability coefficient of 0.3015. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Planning and Designing Livable and Sustainable Regions: Integrating Urban and Regional Perspectives)

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17 pages, 7405 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between Land Use and Urban Vitality in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area: A Multiscale Study

by Cefang Deng, Dailin Zhou, Yiming Wang, Jie Wu and Zhe Yin

Land 2024, 13(10), 1574; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101574 - 27 Sep 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1221

Abstract

Urban vitality, which indicates the development level of a city and the quality of life of its residents, is a complex subject in urban research due to its diverse assessment methods and intricate impact mechanisms. This study uses multisource data to evaluate the urban vitality of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) across social, economic, cultural, and environmental dimensions. It analyzes the spatial distribution characteristics of urban vitality and examines the relationships between urban vitality and land use at both regional and city scales. The results indicate that the urban vitality in the GBA generally exhibits a spatial distribution pattern of a high central density and a low peripheral spread, where built-up areas and cropland emerge as key influencing factors. Cities with different developmental backgrounds have unique relationships between land use and urban vitality. In high-vitality cities, the role of the built-up area diminishes, and natural ecosystems, such as wetlands, enhance vitality. In contrast, in low-vitality cities, built-up areas boost urban vitality, and agriculture-related land types exert a lower negative or even positive effect. This research contributes to the understanding of the spatial structures of urban vitality related to land use at different scales and offers insights for urban planners, builders, and development managers in formulating targeted urban vitality enhancement strategies at the regional collaborative and city levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Planning and Designing Livable and Sustainable Regions: Integrating Urban and Regional Perspectives)

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15 pages, 603 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Community Life Circle, Neighbourly Interaction, and Social Cohesion: Does Community Space Use Foster Stronger Communities?

by Min Jiang, Jiaqi Hu and Xiaofeng Gao

Land 2024, 13(7), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071094 - 19 Jul 2024

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2540

Abstract

Neighbourhood social cohesion has emerged as a prominent concern in urban governance worldwide. As the primary domain of residents’ daily activities, the community life circle contributes to neighbourly interaction and social cohesion. This study investigates the role of space use within the community life circle in promoting social cohesion in Chongqing, China. Through an in-depth activity diary survey and structural equation model analysis, we empirically examine the interplay between community space use, neighbourly interaction, and social cohesion. Our findings suggest that the 15 min community life circle plays a crucial role in residents’ daily lives, particularly among senior residents. However, the contribution of community space use to social cohesion is fully mediated by neighbourly interaction. Furthermore, not all patterns of community space use contribute to social cohesion equally; space use engaged with diverse companions on workdays significantly enhances neighbourly interaction and social cohesion. The study enriches the existing literature by deepening our understanding of the role of the community life circle in fostering socially cohesive and sustainable neighbourhoods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Planning and Designing Livable and Sustainable Regions: Integrating Urban and Regional Perspectives)

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15 pages, 2275 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Family Structure during Shantytown Redevelopment and Their Correlation with the Living Space

by Hao Chao and Hui Kong

Land 2024, 13(7), 1025; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071025 - 9 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1475

Abstract

Amid rapid urbanization, shantytown redevelopment profoundly transforms urban environments and catalyzes substantial changes in social, economic, and family structures. Yet, most previous studies have focused narrowly on the outcomes of single residential mobility events, overlooking the complex dynamics that unfold across the pre-redevelopment, during-redevelopment, and post-redevelopment phases. This study investigates changes in family structure and their correlation with living space throughout all three phases of shantytown redevelopment in Heze City, Shandong Province, China, from 2016 to 2023. Collecting data through a community survey, we gathered 1035 valid responses to analyze family structure and residential characteristics. Our analysis, which included Sankey diagrams and cross-lagged panel models (CLPM), revealed a predominant trend of large families fragmenting into smaller nuclear units and demonstrated a significant positive correlation between family structure complexity (FSC) and living space. Notably, the FSC from a previous phase had a significant influence on the living space of the following phase, indicating lagged effects where housing choices are influenced by prior family structure. Further comparisons across different housing types and tenures during the temporary phase highlighted diverse structural changes among families. These insights are crucial for policymakers to refine urban redevelopment strategies, better meet residents’ needs, and enhance the efficacy of policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Planning and Designing Livable and Sustainable Regions: Integrating Urban and Regional Perspectives)

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23 pages, 19403 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Land Cover Material Interaction of Urban Open Space on the Thermal Comfort of Crowds in High-Temperature Environments and Retrofit Strategies: Two Case Studies in the Nanjing Xinjiekou District

by Ying Tan, Chen Li, Haiyi Feng and Junyan Yang

Land 2024, 13(3), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030314 - 1 Mar 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1766

Abstract

The increased frequency of extreme hot weather events in recent years poses a significant threat to the lives and health of urban residents. Consequently, the thermal comfort of urban open areas has garnered growing attention. The ground material in these urban open areas directly impacts the thermal environment, which significantly influences the comfort of crowds. This study aimed to assess the effect of land cover materials in urban center squares on the thermal comfort of people in high-temperature conditions. Eight types of land cover materials were selected from the two urban squares in the central district of Nanjing Xinjiekou. Physiological equivalent temperature (PET) calculations were performed by measuring the surface temperature, the air temperature, the humidity, and other relevant data to evaluate population thermal comfort. The findings indicated that grass provided the highest thermal comfort, with PET scores ranked as follows, from low to high: grass, permeable bricks, granite, concrete, basalt, bluestone, andesite, and asphalt. Additionally, factors such as color, roughness, and shade within the same material also impacted thermal comfort. Subsequently, using the ENVI-met 5.1 software, surface materials exhibiting superior thermal comfort were simulated for replacement, aiming to confirm the experimental results and propose retrofit strategies for improving urban square thermal comfort by optimizing material selection. The outcomes of this study hold significant implications for urban open space design and the overall well-being of city dwellers. The thermal environment in urban centers during high-temperature conditions can be improved by optimizing the choice of land cover materials in urban open areas, thereby enhancing the comfort of the population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Planning and Designing Livable and Sustainable Regions: Integrating Urban and Regional Perspectives)

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26 pages, 10388 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Mechanism of Street Markets Fostering Supportive Communities in Old Urban Districts: A Case Study of Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong

by Yueyi Tan, Jusheng Song, Lei Yu, Yunxi Bai, Jianfeng Zhang, Man-Ha (Sylvia) Chan and Jeroen van Ameijde

Land 2024, 13(3), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030289 - 26 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4165

Abstract

In old urban districts with tenement buildings, street markets address the working class’s social and economic needs. They are pivotal in fostering supportive communities, in particular for low-income residents in sub-standard housing. However, their outdated overall environment impedes the delivery of adequate support to residents. Prior research on street markets has focused on those in the Americas and Europe, and has revealed the societal support values of these markets. However, studies on street markets in high-density cities like Hong Kong are lacking. This study introduces an evaluation framework to assess the impact of street markets on the development of supportive communities for Hong Kong’s sub-divided apartment residents. Employing the Pei Ho Street market in Sham Shui Po as a case study, an importance-performance analysis highlights critical but underperforming factors including public facilities, activity venues, commerce, and employment. Based on these findings, the study proposes four improvement strategies for the renewal of street markets in high-density communities, which could apply to other cities with similar high-density urban environments. It concludes that street markets in Hong Kong display unique spatial characteristics shaped by low-income lifestyles in a high-density urban environment, enriching daily social life and promoting sustainable community development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Planning and Designing Livable and Sustainable Regions: Integrating Urban and Regional Perspectives)

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