Urban regeneration represents a transformative approach using sustainable practices and innovative community engagement to revitalise cities. It encompasses a broad spectrum of activities—from repurposing vacant urban spaces and integrating green infrastructure to revitalising cultural heritage sites and promoting social inclusion. Crucially, there is no universal formula for urban regeneration; instead, it varies significantly depending on local contexts, environmental needs, and stakeholder collaboration.
This article unpacks successful green regeneration strategies developed in nine European cities, involving diverse actors and a collective will to foster vibrant, resilient, and sustainable urban environments. These strategies are a selection of the 116 newly awarded URBACT Good Practices. At the end of 2024, European cities and regions were invited to submit their sustainable development solutions, each of which went through an expert assessment of their respective local impact, degree of relevant participatory and integrated approaches, and potential transfer to other European cities.
Read on for a synthesis of each practice, along with some takeaways for green regeneration in your city.
Neighbourhoods re-imagined through restoration
Urban neighbourhoods frequently face challenges such as social exclusion, economic decline, and environmental degradation. Below are two examples illustrating distinct yet complementary approaches to urban regeneration that champion sustainability and community revitalisation.
#1 – Ghent (BE)
Urban Renewal Programmes for Neighbourhoods targets disadvantaged neighbourhoods, integrating housing improvement, environmental sustainability, and community engagement. Running for over a decade, the initiative involves around 25 different neighbourhood projects and directly engages more than 10 000 residents.
Ghent’s model showcases an integrated approach, emphasising long-term sustainability and inclusive urban renewal. Prioritising green infrastructure, in particular, the city has created new parks, urban gardens, and pedestrian zones, reducing car dependency by 30% in targeted areas. Collaborative workshops have ensured that community voices guide decision-making, enhancing social cohesion and local buy-in. Economically, the initiative has catalysed job creation through local employment schemes and improved property values.
#2 – Düsseldorf (DE)
Reinventing the Fringe focuses on revitalising peripheral urban areas traditionally neglected in urban development strategies. This practice highlights an effective strategy for addressing urban sprawl and enhancing both economic vitality and environmental sustainability.
By reclaiming approximately 30 hectares of underused spaces, Düsseldorf introduced innovative mixed-use developments featuring commercial hubs, affordable housing, and cultural venues. Connectivity improved significantly, with public transport use increasing by 25% in revitalised areas.
Ecological sustainability is a central component, with the creation of green corridors and sustainable mobility infrastructure that reduced local emissions by 20%. Düsseldorf’s extensive stakeholder participation, including local businesses and residents, ensures that regeneration aligns closely with community aspirations.
What's the takeaway for your city?
Cities can draw inspiration from Ghent and Düsseldorf’s comparative practices by prioritising integrated, data-driven approaches to regeneration and emphasising ecological sustainability to address complex urban challenges.
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Taking collective ownership of green regeneration
A major challenge for urban regeneration is ensuring genuine community participation and ownership in creating green spaces and sustainable urban environments. The following four URBACT Good Practices offer solutions to this challenge, with a variety of local results.
#3 – Brussels-Capital Region (BE)
Brussels' Canal Open Space Plan revitalises urban spaces along the canal area, previously characterised by industrial decline and spatial fragmentation. This initiative demonstrates how inclusive community participation can shape sustainable, resilient urban landscapes.
Through extensive public consultation and co-design processes involving over 5 000 local residents, the city has reconnected communities, improved ecological connectivity, and enhanced public amenities. The plan led to the creation of several new parks and green corridors, covering over 15 hectares and significantly enhancing biodiversity and recreational opportunities.
These interventions have also improved local air quality and reduced urban heat islands by increasing green coverage by nearly 20% across targeted neighbourhoods.
#4 – Rouen (FR)
The Participatory Urban Park Project implemented a participatory approach to develop urban parks that meet community-specific needs and aspirations. By integrating local insights, Rouen has ensured these parks remain vibrant and sustainable community assets.
Over 2 500 residents actively engaged in workshops and surveys, directly influencing park design, amenities, and management practices.
This collaborative process resulted in the creation of accessible, multifunctional green spaces that significantly increased local green coverage and biodiversity. Beyond ecological benefits, the participatory model enhanced social cohesion, fostering a strong sense of local ownership and pride.
#5 – Fót (HU)
Fót addressed the lack of quality public green spaces through a community-centred regeneration project. The Green Spaces for Leisure and Community focused on transforming previously underutilised areas into lively parks and recreational spaces. It involved close collaboration with local community groups, engaging over 1 000 residents in designing and maintaining these spaces.
The result was the revitalisation of approximately 10 hectares into inclusive green areas with diverse recreational facilities. This approach increased local biodiversity, improved public health outcomes, and strengthened community bonds, demonstrating effective strategies for regenerating smaller urban contexts through active citizen involvement.
#6 – Ostrów Wielkopolski (PL)
The Green and Blue City Transformation initiative integrates ecological and community-focused approaches to urban regeneration. The city revitalised its urban water management by developing green infrastructure, rain gardens, and stormwater retention ponds, significantly reducing local flooding incidents by 40%. Extensive community involvement, including education programs and participatory budgeting, ensured the project reflected residents' priorities.
By blending ecological enhancement with active community engagement, Ostrów Wielkopolski has improved the quality of urban life, promoted sustainable water management, and established a replicable model of integrated urban regeneration.
What's the takeaway for your city?
Each practice in this section underscores the value of context-specific, inclusive approaches that prioritise local needs and community participation. Brussels emphasises inclusive spatial integration, Rouen highlights ongoing participatory design, Fót demonstrates the effectiveness of localised small-scale interventions, and Ostrów Wielkopolski exemplifies integrating technical ecological solutions with active community participation. Cities can draw tailored inspiration from these distinct yet complementary approaches to successfully drive green urban regeneration.
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Reinventing cities with citizens
Urban areas frequently struggle with abandoned or underused spaces, requiring innovative citizen-driven regeneration solutions to restore vitality and community connection.
#7 – Igualada (ES)
Igualada tackled the issue of abandoned industrial areas by engaging over 1 200 local citizens in Participatory Transformation of Abandoned Areas. Together with the locals, the city revitalised neglected spaces into dynamic community hubs, including parks and cultural venues, reducing abandoned urban areas by 30%.
The process fostered stronger community ties and improved local economic activity, reinforcing local identity and enhancing quality of life. Igualada’s practice emphasises effective citizen engagement in reclaiming urban spaces while respecting historical and cultural heritage.
#8 – Trnava (SK)
The Public Space Revival project actively engaged over 3 000 residents to regenerate neglected public spaces through participatory planning methods. The city revitalised squares, parks, and pedestrian zones, significantly enhancing urban aesthetics and increasing pedestrian activity by over 50%.
Local businesses benefited economically from increased foot traffic, strengthening the city's overall economic resilience. Trnava’s approach demonstrates how sustained community involvement can produce economically and socially vibrant urban spaces.
#9 – Flöha (DE)
Flöha revitalised a historically significant but disused textile factory through an adaptive reuse approach called ‘Refabrication’. Over 2 000 residents participated in redesigning the 25 000-square-meter space, transforming it into an integrated cultural, educational, and recreational centre.
This extensive citizen involvement significantly enhanced local employment, boosted civic pride, and stimulated economic revitalization. Flöha’s practice illustrates the powerful impact of combining heritage preservation with modern community-driven development.
What’s the takeaway for your city?
Cities can leverage Igualada's effective citizen-driven reclamation of industrial spaces, Trnava’s participatory revival of public areas enhancing local economies, and Flöha’s adaptive reuse strategies preserving cultural heritage. These cases collectively illustrate how citizen participation can lead to meaningful, economically sustainable, and culturally sensitive urban regeneration.
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Beyond regeneration
Collectively, the nine practices showcased above illustrate the transformative potential of green urban regeneration strategies tailored specifically to local contexts. Crucially, successful regeneration requires genuine community engagement, context-sensitive interventions, and collaborative planning processes.
Whether focusing on heritage-sensitive reuse as in Flöha, citizen-driven spatial renewal in Trnava, inclusive green transformations in Brussels, or ecological infrastructure development in Ostrów Wielkopolski, each city provides adaptable frameworks that other cities can tailor according to their specific ecological, social, and economic contexts. Emphasising stakeholders’ collaboration and locally appropriate interventions ensures meaningful and lasting urban transformation.
Explore more examples and draw inspiration from the 116 URBACT Good Practices covering diverse urban challenges such as climate action, energy efficiency, mobility, and social inclusion. Each selected practice underwent a rigorous evaluation by an expert assessing its local impact, participatory approach, integration, and potential for transfer to other European cities.
Discover the full range of practices and consider how your city could adopt and adapt these proven solutions for sustainable urban regeneration by following their journey at the URBACT City Festival in Wrocław (PL) from 8-10 April 2025. Keep an eye on URBACT channels for updates on the event as well as updates on the next call for Transfer Networks!
