Redevelopment of Brownfield Sites: Case Study-Biled Village, Romania

Brownfield redevelopment is gaining ground in Europe, and more and more Member States are searching for sustainable measures to deal with those sites in order to reduce their negative impact. Brownfields in Romania are mainly connected with the decline of industry from the communist era. Timisoara is one of the biggest cities in Romania, where the increasing demand for land for housing and industrial use encourage the urban sprawl. In this paper, we approach the problem of brownfield sites and we are trying to highlight the importance of interdisciplinary team of experts in making cities more resilient to local challenges. Initial site assessment is mandatory for further redevelopment of a brownfield site, and the surveyors have an important role. Many issues have to be taken into account, such as the site location, ownership, costs (as purchase of land, costs with demolition of existing facilities or soil decontamination) or risk and vulnerabilities. But the advantages of brownfields redevelopment are considerable and can represent gains on many fronts: on the environmental, social and economic development side. It has been considered that it is necessary to realize that land is a finite resource and it should be used in a sustainable way. A priority is to protect the unblended habitats, the good land for agriculture, and for this we must ensure that the land is used in the most efficient way.