An innovative Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation of urban policy: the East Naples port-city case study

Although ports are important for the economic development of a territory, they can generate significant negative impacts on surrounding areas. Consequently, transformation processes in port areas frequently precipitate conflict at different levels. By contextualising the 2030 Agenda objectives within port cities, it is possible to support the city and port institutions in developing projects and strategic plans that foster sustainable development and strengthen city-port relationships. Through the Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation (SMCE) implemented by the SOCRATES method, the paper shows an ex-ante impact evaluation of urban policies by comparing technical solutions with social compromise solutions. The proposed methodology has been tested in the East Naples portcity area (Italy) to assess the impacts of different and conflicting urban transformative policies. The primary research outcomes are twofold: first, the development of a SMCE methodology to support an inclusive and sustainable regeneration of port areas; and second, the testing of the SOCRATES method to identify technical and social compromise solutions within a multi-group environment.