The article derives the basic principles of renovation on the basis of the identified problems of the northern part of the social city of Uralmash (Yekaterinburg). Based on the analysis of international experience in the transformation of industrial areas, the socio-cultural problems of depressed and low-demand territories of Uralmash are highlighted to form a general idea of existing problems and possible ways to solve them. As a result of the research five principles for the development of a socially oriented concept of urban infrastructure renovation are proposed, among them: sufficient green areas, a detailed preliminary study of the area to identify existing problems, preservation of the historicity of the area, etc.