To address the misalignment between conservation–development policies and villagers’ needs in traditional villages, this study identifies core demands through a questionnaire survey in 112 villages across three counties in Hubei Province, China. An evaluation system encompassing public facilities, infrastructure, exterior environment, interior environment, and village culture (23 indicators) was analyzed using the Kano model and Better–Worse coefficients (211 valid questionnaires). Results reveal the primary needs ranking: village culture > exterior environment > interior environment > infrastructure > public services. Key findings show villagers prioritize traditional building conservation, cultural identity, and roof improvement, while certain public service investments (e.g., water supply, signage, education) yield lower satisfaction. Notably, villagers are indifferent to lighting improvements. This indicates a deviation from past government priorities and underscores the necessity of integrating villager perspectives into “top-down” decision-making for sustainable village development. The findings provide practical guidance for habitat improvement and precise policy formulation in Northeastern Hubei.

The third-front construction, an integral component of socialist urban and rural development during the initial three decades of the new China, has resulted in a significant surplus of unused stock space following four decades of contraction and progress. The exploration of its reuse value in the contemporary era holds immense theoretical and practical significance. By focusing on 113 factories and mines associated with third-front construction in Hubei Western, this study employs qualitative field research and statistical analysis to assess their layout and condition characteristics. The concept of 'smart shrinkage' is employed to summarise the reuse value of the stock space derived from third-front construction. In addition, the intrinsic and extrinsic value of the reuse value assessment system is evaluated through the implementation of the minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model, network analysis, and cluster analysis. Finally, a proposed pathway for the reuse of the stock space derived from third-front construction is presented. The study revealed several key findings. ① The plants and mines associated with third-front construction in Hubei Western exhibit a signficant concentration in certain areas, while also displaying a dispersed layout on a smaller scale. These establishments rely on regional transportation infrastructure, thereby forming a corridor-like structure. However, due to the implementation of relocation policies, idleness and inefficiency have become prevalent issues. ② The reuse value of the stock space derived from third-front construction exhibits distinct typological characteristics, primarily influenced by its non-urban and non-rural layout. This value can be categorised into three types: heritage, asset, and ecological. ③ The third-front construction plants and mines in Hubei Western comprise 27 heritage reuse types, 30 asset reuse types, and 56 ecological reuse types. Finally, the study proposes several measures to facilitate the transformation and revitalisation of the third-front construction stock space. For instance, the Third Front Construction Heritage group intends to initiate the conversion of property rights for the purpose of reducing transaction costs and promoting the transformation of the Third Front Construction Stock Space Association. Additionally, efforts will be made to restore the natural ecosystem of the Third Front construction area, with the aim of achieving rewilding and other dimensions of the proposed pathway. These findings provide valuable theoretical and methodological support for the sustainable development of the third-front construction area and the revitalisation of its stock space.

For a long time, China's traditional villages, as a form of heritage, have emphasized the conservation of historical “authenticity”, with limitations imposed on commercial development and capital investment. Most of China's traditional villages are in mountainous, with limited transportation and an underdeveloped economy. With the impact of industrialization and urbanization, many traditional villages face problems such as depopulation and severe labor loss. Economic restructuring and commercial development of these villages are urgently needed. Based on this, China has proposed a demonstration work, “Traditional Village Clustered Protection and Utilization”. This work has changed traditional villages' previous single protection model to a clustered model for heritage preservation and economic development. With 113 state-level traditional villages in the eastern region of Hubei Province as the research object, this study adopts the multi-layer network method to construct a Multiplex Relationship Network of traditional villages based on the Economic Development Network and Cultural Preservation Network. Our research results showed that (1) 7 subgroups were identified using a community detection algorithm that detects the community structure of the Multiplex Relationship Network. Most communities span administrative boundaries and are classified into three categories: within a single county, subgrouped across counties, and dispersed across counties. (2) Core nodes were extracted using three network centrality indicators (average degree, betweenness centrality, and community structure). The core notes include ten of the strongest power nodes, three of the strongest connectivity nodes, and ten "bridge" nodes. The strongest power and connectivity nodes impact the development within their communities, while “bridge” nodes play an essential role in inter-community associations. (3) The correlation results show that the economic development and cultural preservation networks interact with each other. Therefore, the average degree of the multiplex relationship network is significantly influenced by economic factors. The study innovatively uses a multi-layer network to guide the planning and implementation of Traditional Village Protection and Utilization in a Subgroup Planning Mode. It provides disciplinary inspiration and practical guidance for revitalizing and utilizing traditional villages.