Introduction  

Urban regeneration has increasingly replaced conventional urban renewal policies by adopting a comprehensive and integrated approach to addressing urban decline. Rather than focusing solely on physical redevelopment, this approach emphasizes the interdependence of social, economic, cultural, and institutional dimensions. Among these, the social dimension is particularly critical, as it shapes residents’ acceptance of interventions and determines the long-term sustainability of regeneration outcomes. Informal settlements are commonly associated with social challenges such as poverty, insecurity, weak social capital, limited civic participation, and a reduced sense of belonging. In these contexts, regeneration initiatives that overlook residents’ perceptions and social conditions may fail to achieve their intended objectives and can even exacerbate distrust and dissatisfaction. Therefore, evaluating the social impacts of regeneration initiatives from the viewpoint of local communities is essential. The Nirogah neighborhood of Sabzevar, an informal settlement that has undergone urban regeneration interventions in recent years, provides an appropriate case for examining these issues. Despite the implementation of various measures, the extent to which regeneration has improved social conditions in this neighborhood remains unclear. This study aims to assess the social effects of the urban regeneration approach in the Nirogah neighborhood, focusing on residents’ perceptions and experiences.

2. Materials and Methods

This research is applied in purpose and descriptive–analytical in method. The study area is the Nirogah neighborhood of Sabzevar, selected due to its informal settlement characteristics and recent regeneration interventions. The statistical population consists of residents, from whom a sample of 384 individuals was selected using Cochran’s formula and random sampling to ensure representativeness across age and gender groups. Data were collected through a researcher-designed questionnaire developed based on theoretical frameworks and prior studies on urban regeneration and social sustainability. The questionnaire included 53 indicators measuring key social dimensions: social security, social participation, social interaction, sense of place attachment, social trust, collective identity, and reduction of social disorders. Content validity was confirmed through expert review, and reliability was verified using Cronbach’s alpha, indicating acceptable internal consistency. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, and mean values) and inferential analysis. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was employed to examine relationships among social variables. Statistical analyses were conducted using standard statistical software, forming the basis for evaluating residents’ satisfaction and participation in the regeneration process.

3. Results and Discussion

The results reveal uneven social outcomes of urban regeneration in the Nirogah neighborhood. From residents’ perspectives, social interaction and sense of place attachment scored above average, indicating improvements in interpersonal relations and local attachment following regeneration interventions. These changes may be attributed to modest enhancements in public spaces and increased opportunities for daily social encounters. In contrast, other dimensions, including social participation, citizen satisfaction, social trust, and reduction of social disorders, were rated below average. Low participation and satisfaction levels suggest weaknesses in participatory planning processes and limited consideration of residents’ priorities during implementation. Furthermore, the persistence of social problems such as unemployment, addiction, and deviant behaviors indicates that regeneration measures have not sufficiently addressed underlying structural challenges. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated significant positive relationships among all social variables, highlighting their strong interdependence. This finding suggests that improvements in one social dimension are closely linked to changes in others, and that isolated interventions are unlikely to produce sustainable outcomes. Overall, the findings indicate that while regeneration efforts have contributed to certain aspects of social cohesion, they have fallen short of delivering comprehensive social improvement.

4. Conclusions

The study concludes that urban regeneration in the Nirogah neighborhood has produced limited and unbalanced social effects. Although improvements in social interaction and place attachment are evident, the overall social objectives of regeneration, particularly enhanced participation, trust, and resident satisfaction, have not been fully realized. This gap reflects a predominant focus on physical and managerial interventions, with insufficient emphasis on community engagement and social empowerment. The strong correlations among social dimensions underscore the need to adopt an integrated, multidimensional approach to regeneration in informal settlements. Sustainable social improvement requires simultaneous attention to physical upgrading, participatory governance, economic opportunities, and institutional transparency. Without such integration, social gains are likely to remain partial and fragile. The findings emphasize that meaningful resident participation and responsiveness to local needs are essential for enhancing the social effectiveness of urban regeneration. Lessons from this case can inform future regeneration policies in similar urban contexts and contribute to more socially sustainable outcomes.

5. Acknowledgment & Funding

·         The manuscript did not receive a grant from any organization.

·         The authors are thankful to all interview participants for supporting this research.

6. Conflict of Interest

·         The authors declare no conflict of interest.