Reviewing 20 years of redevelopment trajectories of industrial sites literature and highlighting new research perspectives

Abstract

Although there has been a large amount of study into the future of post-industrial site, there have been few efforts to synthesize and connect this research. This paper presents a systematic review of the international literature on the redevelopment trajectories of post-industrial land. Its aim is to consolidate existing knowledge, identify gaps and provide a solid basis for future research. We will answer the following questions: (i) what are the trends in research into the redevelopment of post-industrial sites? (ii) what factors influence their redevelopment trajectories? and (iii) how do these factors interact? To understand this, we conducted a systematic literature review, based on 71 carefully selected articles published between 2002 and 2021. Using a methodology combining statistics and content analysis, we noted an increase in research on this subject in the mid-2010s. We also observed that monocase studies were the most common, and that the most studied fields were on the Asian continent. Furthermore, we identified three main approaches: the industrial heritage approach; the brownfield approach; and the governance approach. We conclude by identifying gaps in current research trends and new research perspectives.