Networks and cities' news

Reviving the night: How city centres are transforming after dark

Strolling through a city centre's high street at night can be quite an unexpected experience. After dark, a variety of services and activities come to life, from waste collection to the delivery of goods to shops, utilising the quiet hours for retail preparations. Just a few blocks away, music spills out from bars, mingling with lively chatter from bustling terraces. However, several factors can impact the vibrancy of city centres at night. There is no doubt that city centres face the most significant challenges of the urban night-time economy.

From the contrast of differing functions to noise pollution to the promotion of cultural and business activities, city centres are a prime testing ground for solutions that can enhance their attractiveness at night for both residents and visitors. The implementation of a night strategy can increase the perception of safety, while promoting community spirit and sense of place among different categories of residents.   

From activation to planning : the Cities@Heart Quarterly Report

The quarterly report of the Cities@Heart network encapsulates significant progress and initiatives in revitalising city centres across urban landscapes in the network. The report highlights ongoing efforts and insights gained from collaborations aimed at fostering vibrant and sustainable urban hubs.

"All things, to all people, at all times", the Cities@Heart Baseline Study

Covering themes from nightlife to the circular economy, the 30 URBACT IV Action Planning Networks began their journey of integrated urban development in June 2023. This baseline study, conducted from September to December 2023 in ten different countries, compiles urban analyses and site-specific visits to create the project roadmap for the URBACT Cities@Heart network, aiming to generate actionable knowledge for revitalising city centres.

The purpose of this baseline study is to define the framework for learning, knowledge exchange, and capacity building over the project's two-and-a-half-year duration. It establishes a clear methodology for focusing, categorising, and sharing network learnings.

Sipping coffee in Sligo: How a commitment to community and attention to detail turned things around for downtown—one cup at a time

The year is 2013 and few residents of Sligo, Ireland have heard of a BID, or Business Improvement District. Stakeholders in the local commerce sector operated independently and seldomly in cooperation with the County Council. Fast forward to December 6, 2023 when a group of 26 individuals from ten different countries all over Europe touched down in Sligo to glean best practices for city centre management. Sligo’s remarkable success story provided a fitting backdrop for the first transnational meeting of the Cities@Heart URBACT Action Planning Network.

Falling in love with downtown: the URBACT Cities@Heart network is here!

As a part of the URBACT IV European Programme, ten European urban areas come together to form Cities@Heart, a network dedicated to sharing best practices and innovations for improving city centre management.

Cities@Heart: an URBACT Network proposing solutions for city centres, the testing ground for addressing future urban challenges

In spite of urban sprawl and a franchise economy, city centres are on the rise! Cities@Heart is here to defend proximity and mixed use, making downtown more accessible and appealing for new generations.