URBIUS : a method for assessing the sustainability of urban renewal strategies at neighborhood scale

This paper presents the URBIUS method, developed to assess the sustainability of urban renewal strategies at neighbourhood scale. The conceptual framework of URBIUS gathers the main issues of urban sustainability, including social, economic and environmental aspects. URBIUS is mainly used to compare different strategies for a single neighbourhood. Thus, the assessment thresholds are adapted to the specific potentials, and challenges. The aim is to support city planners in their prospective and proactive work of anticipating the sustainable urban transformation. A case study assessing three different scenarios for the Moulins neighbourhood in Yverdon-les-Bains (Switzerland) is also presented to exemplify the method. Three strategies propose different ways to increase the built density: the first one (S1), allows a higher gross floor area per plot, the second one (S2) suggests some plot redistribution to optimize the urban form, and the third one (S3), suggests a land readjustment leading to a high quality dense neighbourhood. By providing sustainability profiles for each scenario, URBIUS gives stakeholders concrete and clear information for decision-making.