Industrial zone development policy related to real estate and transport outcomes in Shenzhen, China

The regeneration of industrial districts in Shenzhen is self-organized, dependent on starting conditions and engagement with the market, in contrast with other areas where city governments continue to exert effective control over urban planning and its physical outcomes. The permissive industrial regulatory regime in these districts allows rapid transformation of properties to exceptionally high density, a mix of land uses, and minimal service provisions. The city continues to support the rapid transformation of such districts through flexible lease management and the provision of transport infrastructure. The unique road and leasehold system of the industrial district supports the emergence of a non-motorized zone that in turn promotes further real estate investment. The process appears to be iterative and bottom-up, with successive effects between land holdings and real estate investment, transport infrastructure and the non-motorized environment, and the non-motorized environment and further real estate investment. The evidence comes from comparable field studies of real estate development (2000–2013) and transport outcomes (2007 and 2013). The informal practices of the district and city, not yet part of official policy, are nevertheless, having a transformative effect on several former industrial zones.