Property Developers' Engagement in Adapting Urban Waterfronts to the Changing Climate

The climate is changing and the rising temperatures are causing the polar ice to melt, combined with more and intense rain low-lying waterfronts are becoming vulnerable for flooding. Two urban waterfronts have been selected for the study: Frihamnen in Gothenburg and Stadswerven in Dordrecht. The two waterfronts have to be adapted to be able to cope with the risk of flooding. This research investigates how property developers are engaged in the adaptation of the waterfronts and what features influences their behavior. The engagement of the property developers depends on several features, which can be divided into internal and external features. The internal features influencing the behavior of the property developers are their business model and the partnership agreement they have with the urban planners from the municipality. The external features consist of five conditions: The conditions set by the urban planners, through the master and zoning plan, the building permits and as an owner of the land they can influence the property developers’ behavior. The economic conditions in a city and country, influences the housing demand and prices, which have an impact on the development decisions of the property developers. The housing demand and prices are also influenced by the public flood risk awareness. which are the social conditions. The laws, regulations and interest of the national and regional government are steering and controlling the actions of the urban planners and therefore indirectly influencing the behavior of the property developers, which are the institutional conditions. Finally are the physical conditions influencing the adaptations and the nature of the adaptations that are needed. From the case studies three main features that influences the property developers in Gothenburg and Dordrecht to adapt the developments were identified: the business model, long term property developers have more incentives to adapt the developments to avoid damages. The partnership agreement the property developers have with the urban planners from the municipality, if they are given too much freedom, they will use this to make the most profit. Which does not always lead to the development of adapted buildings. The economic conditions: the housing demand and prices are influencing the adaptation investments property developers can afford and are willing to take. An understanding of the features and how they influence the behavior of the property developers, will contribute in the development of resilient waterfronts.Management in the Built EnvironmentArchitecture and The Built Environmen