Al-Ardah North is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Omdurman city in Sudan, which is affected by the increased interest in urban renewal and business investments. Rapid city growth and urban sprawl created some environmental and planning problems. Construction of large residential neighborhoods took place without considering other aspects such as preserving local architecture and the environment. This study to detect the effect of urban renewal using an ethnographic method by identifying the existing neighborhood’s pattern and surveying residents’ opinions. Study results showed that Al-Ardah neighborhood was originally planned to provide pedestrian pockets and suitable spaces for social activities. Some planning guidelines were developed and some decisions were recommended. © 2019 Institution of Engineering and Technology. All rights reserved.