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

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[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]], inclusive[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]], and beautiful[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]] living environments and lifestyles.

Neighbourhoods are currently planned for short and medium term, typically with a 5 to 10-year perspective[[Regional Foundation, Neighborhood Planning: Strategies for Success, Regional Foundation website, accessed 29 September 2025, https://www.regionalfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/About-Neighborhood-Planning_RF_2023-06.pdf]], 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[[ Long-term assumes a timeframe of 20+ years here.]] 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[[ Including data provided by the European State of the Climate Report 2024. Copernicus, ‘European State of the Climate Report 2024’, 2025, https://climate.copernicus.eu/esotc/2024#:~:text=The%20ESOTC%20provides%20descriptions%20and%20analyses%20of%20climate,a%20focus%20on%20resilience%20of%20the%20built%20environment.]](opens in new window) 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[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]] perspectives that will have a major influence on neighbourhoods in the future.
  • Use of co-creation[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]] 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[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]] and transdisciplinary[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]] approach through the integration of different actors and disciplines.

This topic requires the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH)[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]] 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[[ International cooperation and participation of countries beyond EU Member States, associated countries, or third countries under the Horizon Europe programme.]] is encouraged.

Proposals are encouraged to exploit synergies with successful proposals from the topic ‘HORIZON-NEB-2027-01-PARTICIPATION-02: Intergenerational neighbourhoods and communities aligned with the New European Bauhaus’ and ‘HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-10: Intergenerational fairness in the context of demographic change in the EU’ to avoid duplication and exploit opportunities for increased impact.

Proposals are expected to allocate at least 0.8% of their budget for engaging with the Horizon Europe-funded 'New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact' to share their intermediate and final results, findings and learnings, as well as to contribute to impact assessment.