Anticipating the long-term future of neighbourhoods in line with the New European Bauhaus

Expected outcome

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: Local stakeholders adopt long-term stewardship and participate in anticipating and envisioning the long-term future of their existing neighbourhoods . Existing neighbourhoods are more resilient and can adapt to changing socioeconomic, cultural, demographic, and climatic conditions, challenges and needs.

Scope

The New European Bauhaus (NEB) is redefining the way neighbourhoods across Europe and beyond are presently planned, designed, developed, and revitalised by fostering a new paradigm for sustainable , inclusive , and beautiful living environments and lifestyles. Neighbourhoods are currently planned for short and medium term, typically with a 5 to 10-year perspective , often influenced by insufficient coordination with broader regional and national levels or changing political directions in local governance, for instance. However, fundamental changes in socioeconomic, cultural, demographic, and/or climatic conditions can challenge the long-term future resilience and adaptability of neighbourhoods. Concurrently, there is a need to include local stakeholders in anticipating and envisioning the long-term future of their existing neighbourhoods by anticipating their changing needs, circumstances, and preferences. Participatory foresight approaches can help address these challenges. Proposals are expected to address all of the following: Develop and validate a participatory foresight approach to inform the long-term planning, (re)design and development of existing neighbourhoods. The approach must cover at least the following: Analysis of socioeconomic, cultural, demographic and climate conditions, long-term trends (e.g. population decline; shift in population composition and diversity; migration between urban, peri-urban, and rural areas; societal and aesthetic acceptance in neighbourhoods), as well as the drivers for those long-term changes in the targeted neighbourhoods. Development of scenarios and visions for potential futures for the neighbourhood, including objectives, measurable targets and packages of measures. This should include intergenerational fairness perspectives that will have a major influence on neighbourhoods in the future. Use of co-creation approaches to foster the participation of diverse local stakeholders (including marginalised or underrepresented groups as well as those in a vulnerable situation). Develop and validate the participatory foresight approach in at least three neighbourhoods in different Member States and/or Associated Countries. Provide recommendations to inform local authorities, decision makers, and the public on applying the participatory foresight approach. Proposals are expected to follow a participatory and transdisciplinary approach through the integration of different actors and disciplines. This topic requires the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions, as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities. In order to achieve the expected outcomes, international cooperation is encouraged.

What this means for cities and regions

City planning departments and neighbourhood stakeholders building long-term stewardship. Topic budget €7 million; 2 grants expected; around €3.5 million per project. Opens 5 May 2027; closes 1 December 2027. Long-range climate projections and land-use change data from Copernicus feed the scenarios this topic asks for.