A multi-scale study of stakeholder participation and visualisation in Chinese urban planning: The case of the Pearl River Delta

It is widely assumed that stakeholder participation in China differs from that elsewhere due to China’s unique historical, political and cultural context. Yet, hardly any systematic studies exist focusing on this topic. Generally, visualisation can provide bridges to connect stakeholders with diverse backgrounds. Studies of visualisation media in participatory planning have mainly focused on the local scale; what is missing is a multi-scalar approach into their usages in planning processes. This thesis aims to take a multi-scale perspective on stakeholder participation and visualisation in Chinese planning policies and practices. Grounded in theories of perception and stakeholder analysis, a mixed-method approach is employed, incorporating document analysis, interviews, ethnographic observations, questionnaires, and gaze-tracking techniques.

First, a framework analysis scrutinises stakeholder participation and visualisation media in the statutory Chinese urban planning system. Second, three case studies involving various planning scales and content are introduced: Urban Planning Exhibition Halls in the Pearl River Delta (provincial level); Pazhou Internet Innovation Cluster (subdistrict level); and the micro-renewal of Puntoon Wuyue Village (community level). Third, the effectiveness of and interrelationships between stakeholder participation and visualisation media are examined at different scales. Finally, a critical comparison of institutional regulations and local practices is presented.

The research promotes understanding of stakeholder participation and visualisation in Chinese urban planning processes. It examines the operation of newly emerging participatory mechanisms, such as chief urban designers and community planners, in local practices, highlighting the significance of brokers in promoting stakeholder dialogues; it scrutinises the use and effectiveness of visualisation media at longitudinal planning processes, suggesting using a range of visualisation media can facilitate planning communication, stakeholder awareness, cultural rehabilitation, and political attitudes; it investigates the influence of visualisation types and stakeholder characteristics on stakeholder perceptions of planning, providing implications for better utilisation of visualisation media to meet diverse stakeholder needs.

The findings of the three case studies reveal no significant differences between the general public and professionals in perceptions of planning, suggesting the general public plays a more substantial role in planning and decision-making processes. To form a more comprehensive picture of stakeholder participation and visualisation in China, future research is needed to examine the research questions in other cultural, social and political contexts.