‘Involve residents in implementing policy plans’

Researcher Ton Baetens has analyzed the decision-making and implementation processes at the deprived area Ondiep in Utrecht. The conclusion of his PhD research: for a project to succeed, it is essential to work together with civil society groups and residents.

Since the 90s, the Utrecht district Ondiep gradually underwent a restructuring, resulting in all kinds of parties coming together. The government, which wanted to make the neighborhood livable again, had to deal with architects and provincial authorities, housing corporations and residents, who all had their own interests and networks.

According to Baetens these different parties sometimes form surprising coalitions, which is good for the vitality of the neighborhood. Sometimes, for example, political parties, local residents, squatters and professors formed coalitions if they all were all against the demolition of a part of the neighborhood.

Baetens defended his PhD thesis on Wednesday 25 May.