Planning for Plural Groups? Villages-in-the-city Redevelopment in Guangzhou City, China

This paper investigates how the plural needs of different groups are handled by redevelopment planning. Investigating the redevelopment of villages-in-the-city in Guangzhou, this paper examines how the differing interests of indigenous villagers are being considered and resolved through a local initiative - 'one village one policy'. Case studies from three villages are drawn upon to examine how local conditions and concerns are being tackled in each village's respective redevelopment plan. Different degree of government intervention in the planning of the three villages suggests that local distinctiveness is defined by the authorities in accordance with their agenda. Further, the exclusion of migrant workers suggests their needs and interests are totally overlooked in the redevelopment process. The attempt to cope with the needs of different social groups, therefore, has remained insufficient.