Buffer Zone Planning Concept in an Already Established Industrial Estate: A Study Case in Gresik Industrial Estate (Kawasan Industri Gresik)

The Gresik Industrial Estate (KIG) illustrates the tension between industrial growth, peri-urban residential expansion, and weakened buffer zone implementation in Indonesia. While national regulations mandate buffer zones, their application remains inconsistent, reflecting broader Global South challenges of rapid suburbanisation and land scarcity. This study evaluates buffer zone planning in KIG through policy review, walkthrough analysis, and stakeholder interviews, using Kevin Lynch’s Good City Form to assess qualitative dimensions. Findings reveal significant gaps between policy intentions and outcomes, particularly in the dimensions of “Fit” and “Control”. Current top-down policies often fail to address spatial integration and social impacts, focusing narrowly on source-based emissions rather than the mitigating role of buffer zones in reducing exposure. To address these, the paper argues for more inclusive bottom-up planning, complemented by corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, to enhance both functional design and community empowerment, supporting more resilient and liveable industrial–residential coexistence.