Urban pilot project descriptions The European Commission, DG XVI, has published a booklet containing information on 26 urban regeneration projects which commenced in July 1997 and will be completed by December 1999. The projects will be funded under the urban pilot programme, an initiative under Article 10 of... The European Commission, DG XVI, has published a booklet containing information on 26 urban regeneration projects which commenced in July 1997 and will be completed by December 1999. The projects will be funded under the urban pilot programme, an initiative under Article 10 of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which aims to support innovation in urban regeneration and planning through a series of pilot projects in cities across the European Union. The projects described in this booklet were selected from a call for proposals launched under the programme in November 1995. They form the second phase of the programme, and will involve total expenditure of ECU 162.3 million, the total ERDF contribution being ECU 63.6 million. From the 503 proposals submitted, 26 were selected which address an urban theme of European interest, are innovative in their approach, and have a clear demonstration potential and are therefore of broader application. These second phase urban pilot projects aim to combat a wide range of urban problems, from traffic congestion and waste management problems to urban dereliction and economic decline. Many adopt a highly integrated approach, and combine hard infrastructure works with environmental, social, cultural and economic measures, in an attempt to promote sustainable development and employment and improve the quality of life. The background, aims and objectives, as well as information on the total cost of each project and the ERDF contribution are provided in the publication. Contact details for each project coordinator are also provided. Examples of the projects detailed in the publication include: - CHORUS: the urban and social regeneration of the historic centre of Besançon, France; - RECYCLART: the renovation of an inner city railway station in Brussels, Belgium; - Local waste management project for Dortmund, Germany; - Blueprint for sustainable development in Leicester, UK.
