Lucknow Implements New Urban Redevelopment Policy For Older Buildings
Lucknow has introduced a new urban redevelopment policy aimed at buildings that are more than 25 years old, signaling a policy shift designed to rejuvenate ageing structures and manage safety, infrastructure and habitation quality in its expanding urban footprint.
Municipal officials said the policy, which extends redevelopment eligibility to a wide set of older residential and institutional buildings, is intended to address structural safety concerns, promote urban renewal, and streamline regulatory pathways for modernisation. The new framework establishes eligibility criteria based on building age, while also recognising factors such as structural stability, utilities performance and compliance with electric, fire safety and drainage norms. By design, the policy provides a procedural route for older structures to be assessed, approved for redevelopment and aligned with contemporary building standards, enabling owners and resident welfare associations to pursue renovation or complete rebuilds within a clear regulatory framework. Urban planners point out that cities like Lucknow face pressures from ageing building inventories that, if left unchecked, can become liabilities for safety, sanitation and service delivery.
Structures that pre-date modern building codes often suffer from outdated electrical systems, limited load-bearing capacity and inadequate water, sewerage and stormwater connections. Redevelopment under the new policy is intended to prioritise structural strengthening and alignment with improved infrastructure norms, a key factor in advancing both resilience and quality of life for occupants. The policy also underscores the city’s broader urban renewal ambitions. Lucknow’s residential landscape has grown rapidly as migration, economic activity and housing demand have surged over the past decade. In this context, ageing buildings that were constructed during earlier phases of development now face functional obsolescence. Residents and developers have long sought clearer, streamlined pathways to modernise such stock, with the goal of enhancing liveability and reducing maintenance burdens.
Importantly, the new policy integrates assessments of utilities and service networks. As part of redevelopment approvals, buildings must demonstrate compliance with contemporary standards for waste disposal, sewerage connections, fire safety systems and water supply integration. This alignment reinforces not just structural safety but also improves urban infrastructure performance — a critical consideration for densely populated neighbourhoods where service disruptions can have cascading impacts on residents’ daily lives. Economists and housing analysts see redevelopment as a potential lever for supporting local construction activity and property market dynamism. Facilitating redevelopment can unlock investment, create jobs and rejuvenate older neighbourhoods, boosting overall urban property values. However, financing remains a central challenge; many resident welfare groups will need access to credit or developer partnerships to pursue larger redevelopment projects. Kapoor
The city administration has also emphasised fiscal prudence and accountability in the rollout of the policy. Transparent assessment frameworks, digital tracking of applications and clear timelines for approvals are central to avoiding historical delays that have deterred residents from pursuing upgrades. Municipal officials are engaging with resident associations and urban planners to ensure the policy’s rollout is well understood and operationally smooth. Despite its potential benefits, the policy’s implementation will require careful calibration. Urban redevelopment must balance modernisation with heritage conservation and equitable access to infrastructure. Older neighbourhoods, particularly those with legacy service networks, may face transitional challenges related to temporary utility disruptions or construction impacts on traffic and public spaces.
For Lucknow, the introduction of an urban redevelopment policy for ageing buildings represents a significant step toward managing the city’s evolution. By framing structural upgrade pathways within a formal policy environment, civic authorities are signaling a broader commitment to urban resilience, safety and infrastructure performance — themes that will shape the city’s growth trajectory in the years to come.
