Stakeholder Characteristics and Interactions in a Participatory Community Renewal Project: A Case Study of Pun Tong Wuyue Village, Guangzhou

In community renewal, a thorough understanding of the characteristics of stakeholders and their interactions is essential for achieving community consensus and optimizing the renewal outcomes. Different from the descriptive approaches that are often used for stakeholder analysis in community renewal, this research systematically analyzes the dynamics of the stakeholder network in participatory planning using the case of the Pun Tong Wuyue Micro-renewal Project. Drawing on the influence-interest grid, actor-linkage matrix and statistical analysis, data are collected through ethnographic observations, surveys and semi-structured interviews. The research is divided into three steps: 1) A total of 145 participants were grouped in 14 stakeholder categories; 2) The characteristics, including the influence, interest and participation level of each stakeholder, were analyzed; 3) The communications and relationships between various stakeholder categories were examined. The results highlight the effectiveness of holding participatory activities and establishing common interests in building positive stakeholder relationships. They also show the importance of community planners and designers, clan representatives, relevant governmental departments, and news media in mobilizing information. The marginalization of the elderly, females, less educated people and other less influential social groups was revealed, calling for more inclusive participation. The findings are of significance for the implementation of future participatory community renewal practices.