URBAN ECHO

City renewal that resonates

Edited on 23/06/2026

01/11/2025 30/04/2028

Ongoing
  • Transfer Network
  • Urban planning

The URBAN ECHO network helps cities with an integrated approach to urban renewal that puts people first. The Transfer Network develops long-term strategies, tailored to each neighbourhood. Led by Ghent, partners learn how cross-departmental collaboration, meaningful citizen participation and strong local partnerships create change that resonates. No quick fixes. No standard solutions. 

PARTNERS

Lead Partner : Ghent - Belgium
  • Dusseldorf - Germany
  • Las Gabias - Spain
  • Perugia - Italy
  • Cluj-Napoca - Romania
  • Pezinok - Slovakia

Network Contact

  • Sofie Lagaisse

Timeline

Start of the network journey- November 2025

 

After we (city of Ghent as lead together with the other partners) made the application in June 2025 - we received the message that our Transfer network 'Urban Echo' was approved bij URBACT. An URBACT network brings together EU cities willing to exchange ideas and produce integrated local policies with the help of their peers, local stakeholders and URBACT experts. 
Together with Las Gabias, Cluj-Napoca, Perugia, Düsseldorf and Pezinok we start a journey of 2,5 years of sharing knowledge about "the Ghent way of city renewal." 

Kick-off in Ghent

 

All the partners meet for the first time in Ghent for a real deep dive into the city of Ghent and the good practice on Urban Renewal.

 

 

 

On the road in Ghent
Transnational meeting in Pezinok

What happens when cities across Europe come together to rethink urban renewal — each from a completely different reality?
From 10–12 June, URBAN ECHO partners met in Pezinok (SK) to exchange, reflect, and explore how one good practice can take shape in many local contexts.

One idea really stuck: “an echo is not a copy.” There is no one-size-fits-all. Each city brings its own challenges — from participation and climate ambitions to collaboration and neighbourhood action — but also its own strengths.

✨ Urban renewal starts with people

 ✨ Collaboration is key, even if not always easy

 ✨ Learning, monitoring and communicating matter just as much as doing

 

A big thank you to the Pezinok team for the warm welcome and showing us the Cajla-Pezinok Sever neighbourhood. 

Now, we move forward: testing ideas locally and preparing for the next stop in Cluj-Napoca in October 2026.
 

Group photo at Central Pezinok.

Stories

Network outputs