Post renewal residential experiences in urban renewal: Perspectives of residents, communities, and processes in Guangzhou, China

As urban renewal evolves into a spatial strategy for capital accumulation in the global context, there has been an increasing focus in the literature on assessing these initiatives' socio-economic benefits and consequences. However, postrenewal residential experiences (PRE) and associated factors remain unclear and open to debate. This study uses T-test and Ridge Regression to examine residents' PRE in eight Guangzhou neighbourhoods. Specifically, we analyse changes in residential experiences after urban renewal in these neighbourhoods from three dimensions: objective environmental satisfaction (physical), social cohesion (social), and community attachment (psychological). However, existing research has largely overlooked the dynamic processes and their longitudinal impacts on residents over time. Therefore, this study investigates factors associated with these changes in three areas: Residents’ characteristics, neighbourhood context, and renewal process. The results showed that urban renewal significantly impacted the PRE of residents, wherein disadvantaged groups, resource-deprived communities, or high-investment renovation had more changes in PRE. This study suggests that emphasising financial investments in impoverished neighbourhoods and considering the needs of vulnerable inhabitants hold significant value in advancing urban equity and fostering sustainable development. • This study examines postrenewal residential experiences in eight Guangzhou neighbourhoods, leveraging comparative data to analyse changes across physical, social, and psychological dimensions before and after the renewal process. • This study innovatively analyses PRE across three dimensions (physical, social, psychological) and three areas (individual/household characteristics, neighbourhood context, and renewal process). • T-tests reveal that urban renewal significantly influences postrenewal residential experiences, underscoring the necessity of targeted interventions in resource-deprived communities to achieve equitable outcomes. • Ridge Regression analysed postrenewal residential changes across three areas, emphasising underprivileged groups, such as low-income, less-educated women and those marginalized by limited decision-making power during the renewal process. • Findings and suggestions are valuable references for advancing urban equity and sustainable development in China's compact urban growth stage.