Farshad Nourian, Nayereh Dayarian,
Volume 33, Issue 4 (12-2023)
Abstract
In spite of the extensive body of research focusing on the concept of "public interest" within the realm of urban planning, there exists a notable dearth in the discourse surrounding the challenges and impediments encountered in actualizing public interest within the context of urban planning and management. The primary objective of this paper is to systematically identify and elucidate the obstacles impeding the realization of public interest within the urban development plans of Iran, offering a theoretical framework to explicate the interrelations among these hindrances. To achieve this goal, an investigation and analysis are conducted on three megamalls situated in Tehran City, serving as representative cases. The principal method employed for data collection is a semi-structured interview, with subsequent analysis carried out through the utilization of Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT). The outcomes of this inquiry reveal a categorization of barriers into five overarching domains: deficiencies within the urban planning system, conflicts of interest, the legalization of transgressions, a passive civil society, and challenges pertaining to public interest. Each of these categories is expounded upon comprehensively, delving into the nuances of their respective implications. Furthermore, a comparative discussion is presented, drawing parallels between our identified categories and analogous research findings on public interest conducted in various other countries.
