INNOVATIVE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF THE RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN BANGKOK'S URBAN INNOVATION ZONES

Abstract

This study aims to 1) Analyze the current state and issues of the existing legal framework governing the residential construction industry in urban innovation zones; 2) Develop an innovative legal framework for urban development; and 3) Propose policy recommendations for government agencies and stakeholders to implement this framework. A mixed-methods approach was employed. Quantitative data were collected via a survey of 150 respondents from a population of 200 real estate developers in Bangkok (Sample Size Determined by Krejcie and Morgan 1970 using simple random sampling). Qualitative data were obtained via Delphi interviews with 20 experts from government, private, and civil society sectors.

The quantitative results indicate that key legal barriers to innovative residential development include protracted construction permit processes, rigid building regulations, and insufficient tax incentives for innovation projects. The qualitative findings reached consensus on five core components of an innovative legal framework: 1) Revising zoning and building regulations to be flexible and accommodating of new technologies; 2) Establishing one-stop permit service agencies; 3) Providing financial and tax incentives for firms adopting innovations; 4) Creating collaborative mechanisms among government, private, and community stakeholders in innovation zones; and 5) Implementing regulatory sandbox approaches that allow experimentation with innovations under special conditions in limited areas. The proposed framework is expected to accelerate the adoption of advanced construction technologies and processes, contributing to the sustainable development of innovation-driven urban areas.