Brownfields in China: The Case of Liaocheng Chemical Plant

In recent decades, sustainable brownfield regeneration has been adopted as a pragmatic policy approach to pursue the ideal of efficient use of natural resources and to contain the far-reaching implications of urban sprawl in many nation states. Since the 1990s, regeneration of urban brownfields has become an integral part of city policy and action in the developed world. In other places, such as China, brownfield regeneration is still emerging. Currently, China lacks a comprehensive legislative and regulatory framework for addressing brownfield sites. Nonetheless, the Chinese central government is initiating a nationwide brownfield redevelopment framework through pilot studies on a smaller scale. This study focuses on a specific small-scale industrial brownfield in eastern China, the Liaocheng Chemical Plant, which has been extensively utilized for decades. This case exemplifies China’s efforts to decommission outdated, polluting industries and rehabilitate land through environmental remediation measures. This research distinguishes itself by examining brownfield land regeneration within the broader context of urban and structural changes in China’s regional and political landscapes. Through a detailed case study analysis, incorporating personal interviews and site visits, this study sheds light on the practical application of China’s evolving policy and regulatory framework for preventing and managing land contamination.