The aim of this research is to investigate how urban planning and territorial development policy has shaped and contributed to sustainable urban development in Riga.

Sustainable urban development in Riga is set as the main goal both by municipal authorities and urban planners. Urban regeneration is one of the milestones in the EU Cohesion Policy and implementation of these processes will contribute to other aspects of sustainability as well.

Riga as a post-socialist manufacturing city has comparatively large proportion of brownfields, thus redevelopment of the neglected or run down sites is nominated as one of the key issues to provide complex sustainable urban development in future. Regeneration of urban brownfields is an important tool to reduce their negative impact on surrounding urban environment. Redevelopment of these territories shift development back to the central areas of the city, thus forming a compact structure of the city and reducing a pressure on the grennfield sites.

Territorial development policy in Riga has shaped during the last years and now it is more focused on urban regeneration issues. Riga City Council is promoting urban regeneration processes by participating as a partner in various projects. Most of them can be listed among the most successful redevelopment projects in Riga. There are various proposed urban regeneration projects where Riga City Council will act in cooperation with private developers, and in some cases additional funding for these activities from the EU Structural Funds is granted

This research aims to provide an overview of urban planning and territorial development policy and description of urban regeneration processes in Riga.