Investigating community-based participatory design approaches in planning and constructing public community facilities: a scoping review

Abstract

The construction industry is witnessing a paradigm shift towards Community-Based Participatory Design (CBPD) approaches, deviating from traditional top-down methodologies. CBPD prioritises local knowledge and perspectives, encouraging inclusive collaboration among stakeholders. With the aim of investigating different CBPD approaches in planning and constructing public community facilities, focusing on their applicability, benefits, and limitations, this study employed a Scoping Review Methodology. Scopus and Web of Science databases were used to identify the papers with the use of predefined keywords. Following the screening process, 30 relevant research studies were analysed. Findings revealed that CBPD approaches offer several benefits, including promoting democratic decision-making, sustainable development, and community empowerment, ultimately enhancing the inclusivity and effectiveness of infrastructure projects. Simultaneously, limitations were identified, including navigating power dynamics, reconciling stakeholder interests, addressing scalability concerns, and overcoming resource constraints. Real-life examples and case studies were thoroughly analysed to identify the applicability of CBPD approaches and the importance of implementing such approaches in public community facilities. Based on the findings as well as the identification of gaps, future research areas were proposed.