Networks and cities' news

Shaping Urban Regeneration Together in Vila Nova de Poiares

From 13–14 May 2025, Vila Nova de Poiares, Portugal, hosted delegations from eight countries for the 6th Core Network Meeting of the URBACT “GreenPlace. Let’s do it together!” network. Representatives from partner cities, including elected officials, ULG members, and project experts, came together for two days of exchanges, workshops, and site visits, all with a shared focus on green urban regeneration and active community participation.

Schoolhoods’ 5th Quarterly Network Report – getting into detail

“Getting into detail!” – during the fifth quarter of our journey, we dived into the details of emerging pressing topics like how to safeguard political buy-in for our implementations-to-come and focused on getting our actions ready to fly and to deliver.

The S.M.ALL POV: On Communities and Sustainable Mobility

We’re excited to share this article by Dr. Katerina Paschalidou from the Municipality of Komotini, one of our S.M.ALL project partners. With a PhD in Sport Science, a background in law and bioethics, and hands-on experience leading sustainable mobility initiatives, Katerina combines academic insight with real-world action. Her perspective brings fresh energy and depth to our shared URBACT journey towards more inclusive, people-centred cities.

Enjoy her contribution, and thank you Katerina!

Nudging Planning Processes: Soft Planning and Behavioural Shifts for Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Mobility*

In contemporary urban planning, we often take it for granted that improved infrastructure, new bike lanes, bus lines, and digital apps will be enough to shift mobility behaviours. But experience shows that without addressing deeper cultural, emotional, and psychological factors, change is irrelevant and short-lived. Through my experience in URBACT S.M.ALL and several other European and non-European projects, I have learned the transformative power of what I call soft planning: a way of thinking about urban change that prioritises process over product, relationships over regulations,
policies over normative or technical plans, and empowerment over enforcement. 

Within this frame, nudges, those gentle behavioural signals that shape decisions without limiting citizens' choices are among the most powerful planning tools at our disposal.

Talking Hands: S.M.ALL's Fifth Quartely Report

The first quarter of 2025 marked a turning point for the S.M.ALL network. With the Mid-Term Review completed and Integrated Action Plans reaching maturity, partner cities dived into shifting from planning to practice, launching real-world tests of the inclusive mobility solutions they had co-designed.

Winter is for Action: The Fourth Quarterly Report of S.M.ALL

As the year drew to a close, the S.M.ALL network didn’t slow down. Instead, it shifted gears from planning to action. The fourth quarterly report captures a crucial phase where Integrated Action Plans (IAPs) started shaping real, on-the-ground changes across partner cities. With a strong focus on pilot projects, citizen engagement, and risk management, this quarter laid the foundation for a transformative 2025.