City infrastructure shapes health and health inequities in myriad interdependent ways: cities are drivers of economic policy and employment; they are sites of excellence, for example, education and healthcare, but also of crime and exploitation. Mobility within and between cities and regions is critical for economic development but is also responsible for air pollution, chronic disease, and road traffic injuries. The voracious demands of urban populations for housing, energy, food, and other resources bind cities to their peri-urban and rural neighbors, and across the world environmentally, economically, and socially. These and other examples shape physical health, mental well-being, safety, and equity.

While infrastructure is defined as the undergirding of society, the costs and benefits of revitalizing old or creating new infrastructure tend to narrowly focus on economics rather than how cities and regions function and grow. The climate crisis is placing massive pressure on existing and new infrastructure to both mitigate and adapt to a newer more volatile world. The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly tested (as will future pandemics) the function and capacity of city infrastructure globally through connecting infrastructure (especially transport but also the flow of finance) and locally where critical infrastructure services and their workforce were both the cause and solution to the spread of the pandemic.

The percentage of the global urban population is growing steadily and by 2050 is expected to reach 68%, meaning scholarship to drive decision-making, politics, and policy is urgent. Taking a health lens to infrastructure provides an ever deeper understanding of the links between cities as producers of healthy societies and a healthy planet. Influencing city infrastructure to protect and promote the health of the public is wholly political, but the research into the systemic policy and practice connections between city infrastructure and the creation of healthy built environments remains underdeveloped.

This Collection invites papers that capture innovations in city infrastructure policies and practices. The innovations can range from ways that information is collected and used, to activities to develop capacity and share knowledge within and between cities, to the interrogation of policy-making and political institutions. Given the ubiquitous interconnected nature of this challenge, we encourage papers with a global south lens. Given city and infrastructure policy and practice is essentially transdisciplinary we encourage papers that span disciplines. We aim for a collection of papers that foster policy innovation by providing a mix of empirical rigour and critical depth.

Keywords:Cities, Infrastructure, Practice, Policy, Health, Equity, Wellbeing, Urban, Planning, Institutions, Governance, Power, Evidence

Cities globally are undergoing unprecedented transformation. Urban renewal, once primarily driven by economic growth and physical infrastructure upgrades, now faces the critical imperative of addressing deep-seated social inequalities and the escalating climate crisis. Traditional models of redevelopment have often resulted in gentrification, displacement of vulnerable communities, and the erosion of cultural heritage, exacerbating rather than alleviating social stratification. Concurrently, the urgency of the climate emergency demands that urban regeneration integrates sustainable practices, enhances resilience, and promotes low-carbon living.

This collection argues that the goals of social equality and environmental sustainability are not merely complementary but are fundamentally intertwined in the pursuit of just and resilient cities. We seek to move beyond siloed approaches to explore the integrated and often contentious intersections of planning, design, and governance. How can urban renewal be reconceptualized and implemented as a vehicle for fostering inclusive communities, redistributive benefits, and ecological restoration?

Scope and Topics

We invite theoretical, empirical, and policy-oriented contributions that critically examine the nexus of equity and sustainability in urban renewal. We are particularly interested in papers that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

Planning for Inclusive Futures: Critical analyses of planning policies and instruments (e.g., participatory planning, inclusionary zoning, community land trusts) that can prevent displacement and ensure affordable housing, access to green spaces, and social infrastructure in renewed areas.

Design for Equity and Ecology: Explorations of architectural and urban design strategies that promote social interaction, accessibility, cultural diversity, and bioclimatic performance. This includes research on nature-based solutions, circular economy principles in construction, and the design of public spaces as engines of social cohesion.

Cultural Space Protection and Renewal: Investigations into the role of tangible and intangible cultural heritage in urban renewal. We welcome studies on how to protect, adaptively reuse, and revitalize cultural spaces—from historic buildings and indigenous sites to community theaters and informal gathering spots—in ways that strengthen community identity, foster social cohesion, and promote sustainable tourism without triggering gentrification.

Governance and Co-Production: Investigations into innovative multi-actor governance models that facilitate meaningful community engagement, co-creation, and collaborative decision-making among residents, private developers, NGOs, and municipal authorities. Papers may explore challenges of power dynamics, accountability, and the scaling of grassroots initiatives.

Critical Case Studies: In-depth evaluations of specific urban renewal projects from around the world that have successfully—or unsuccessfully—navigated the trade-offs and synergies between social equity, sustainability, and cultural vitality.

Justice and Ethics: Theoretical contributions on spatial justice, climate justice, the right to the city, and the ethics of preservation in the context of urban transformation.

Keywords:Urban Renewal; Social Equity; Sustainability; Spatial Justice; Planning; Urban Design; Cultural Heritage; Governance; Gentrification; Climate Resilience; Community Participation