This document is divided into three sections. The first presents the major challenges that contemporary urban centres are facing. First in a more general way, locating 15 common challenges. In this section, we will observe that the challenges are complex, overlapped and in need of an integrated approach. The next step has been to understand the policy dimensions of urban centres. This involves first identifying the frameworks that will help the partnership to work holistically and then establishing an own framework that will allocate six main functions that explain the different balances present in urban centres: housing, work, public facilities, commerce, leisure and public space. The combination of these various dimensions will allow us to describe the different dynamics and challenges presented concerning their influence on residents and the external population. Finally, in this initial section, in order to address the complexity of the issues and the different challenges, a proposal is put forth to work on five interrelated fundamental pillars: integrated public policies, governance, decision-making tools, sustainability and inclusion; which are further explained.
In the second chapter, in order to understand the different profiles of the partners that form the network, an overview is presented. First, we provided a general overview of the city and its city centre boundaries, explaining the current situation of the city centre regarding the main functions presented in the previous chapter. We also include a section in which we present the current approach of the partners on to the five fundamental pillars. The composition of the Urban Local Group is then presented, in order to understand the typologies of stakeholders that are embedded in the process. Finally, a general overview is provided on the learning needs and contribution of each partner to the network, along with some best practices that will enhance the knowledge exchange.
Finally, the third chapter synthesises the network methodology and details the proposed activities during the two years and a half of the URBACT programme. Based on the analysis of the major drivers of the revitalisation of city centres, it includes the capacity-building activities and work plan and the potential dissemination and capitalisation of learnings.
This methodology addresses the main challenges presented by the partners. It is first extended to match the network framework and then summarised and synthesised into seven common challenges: managing complexity, gentrification, adaptation to climate change, new supply models, building a city centre identity, public space and managing mixed uses. The methodological framework is then explained, where the seven challenges are overlapped with the five pillars and used as the base to propose the capacity-building and exchange activities. These are divided into transnational meetings, city-to-city exchanges and ULG meetings, along with a work plan.
This chapter ends with a learning capitalisation and dissemination strategy, which is based on the added value of the network, a toolbox based on five pillars, a policy advocacy and the search for funding opportunities.
