Megaprojects (MP) are characterized by complexity, uncertainty, ambiguity, dynamic interfaces, significant political or external influences, and durations reaching a decade or more. There is a substantial amount of international literature dealing with megaprojects in urban planning and development, which indicates the rising role of large development projects in cities. In addition, megaprojects conform to a model of urban sustainable development that many governments favor: high-profile strategic projects with the potential to satisfy immediate aims attract external capital and redefine a neighborhood or the city as a whole. The international experience is rich in successful and failed examples of megaprojects. Shenhar and Holzmann (2017) state that the key points for the success of megaprojects are three: clear strategic vision, total alignment, and adapting to complexity. Several studies award the impacts (positive or negative) of megaprojects on local economy by fostering local employment, increasing land values, business opportunities, creation of new investments to the area, generate economic benefits for local government or living standards and wealth distribution to local community. On the other side, various megaprojects have failed due to extensive overruns, misunderstanding of expectations, or both. In addition, other studies examine megaproject impacts on local and regional environment, focusing on specific sectors such as, water, air and ground pollution, climate change and energy saving, open green spaces etc.  Furthermore, megaprojects are connected with social factors, such as reduction of social inequality, provision of basic services and civic facilities, improvement of public transportation and reduction of traffic problems, etc. On the contrary, megaprojects often relate to negative impacts, like the territorial tensions produced in contexts of social inequalities, irregular distribution of social and civic facilities, insufficient green areas, limited access to water, inefficient and unsustainable public transport solutions. Social injustice to local communities has also captured the attention of many scholars. Megaprojects could displace homes and impact on the livelihoods of population, mainly the ones inhabiting the project’s execution proximity. In addition, environmental impact is identified as one of the negative impacts of megaprojects. The issues derived from improper implementation of urban development policies have been widely studied and documented in mega-cities such as Cape Town, Durban, Delhi, and Lima. Of course, these negative impacts are often related to the poor project management performance and their failure to deliver the indented outcomes. Megaprojects may be viewed as huge development schemes that are particularly ambitious, expensive, and difficult to manage, with a tendency to fail to meet the initial objectives.

At exactly, this point the core aim of this particular issue is focuses on. To audit, examine, analyse and present empirical evidence derived from quantitative or qualitative field research, using primary or secondary data regarding the impacts (positive or negative) of MP to local economies, local environments and local communities.

Main research topics, but not limited on these:

-        MP and local residents reactions

-        MP and their impacts on urban aesthetic

-        MP and their impacts on local business environment

-        MP and management

-        MP and stakeholders attitude

-        MP and city attractiveness

-        MP and FDI (in several sectors)

-        MP and tourism/ cultural development

-        MP as tool for city marketing/ branding

-        Best practices/ policies

 

sustainable development; local stakeholders; local communities reactions; mega projects management; mega projects impacts (economic, social, environmetale etc.)