Quantifying the core driving force for the sustainable redevelopment of industrial heritage: implications for urban renewal

Industrial heritage redevelopment (IHR) is the redevelopment and utilization of original industrial buildings. The sustainable development of IHR projects is a major challenge that the construction industry must address to establish reasonable sustainable solutions for urban development. However, the relationship between the sustainable development of IHR and its potential driving forces has not yet been elucidated. In this paper, first, 25 sustainability drivers are identified through a comprehensive literature review. Second, key environmental, economic, social, and cultural sustainability attributes are determined through structured questionnaires and interviews. Through a confirmatory factor analysis, the core degree of the sustainability driving factors is quantified. On this basis, the important role of sustainability in urban renewal is discussed. The research shows that the core driving forces of the IHR projects are the (1) development status of the construction industry, (2) repair and maintenance costs, (3) soundness of laws and regulations, (4) suitability level of the development model, and (5) utilization of construction land. Besides, IHR projects have great potential, and improving the sustainability of their development is of great significance to urban renewal.