Greening dense urban areas for enhanced climate resilience, biodiversity and health

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-05-12

Description

Description (EN):

NWE is experiencing rapidly increasing climate change impacts, high heat stress, air pollution, biodiversity loss, droughts and flooding. These effects are more pronounced in dense urban areas (often deprived, high traffic, extensive impermeable paving), which suffer from low green infrastructure (GI) to mitigate impacts. Due to limited space and competition between uses (parking, private ownership, recreation), citizen and business resistance, and lack of large infrastructure investments, dense urban areas are an underserved, challenging location to implement new GI. GreenDense pilots design, community engagement, and dense-specific mainstreaming mechanisms to introduce new GI in 6 challenging dense urban environments in 5 NWE countries (NL, BE, DE, IE, FR). It increases green coverage where needed most, with benefits for climate change resilience, natural environment, mental and physical health. Supported by 3 expert organisations in urban ecology and placemaking, the 6 cities pilot an innovative location-sensitive ‘mosaic’ approach to GI. A mosaic of small GI makes the most of limited space, increasing green connectivity. Multi-benefit, multi-use GI will be tailored to local needs and culture, with acceptance built via grassroots co-creation. In absence of large GI investments, the project harnesses related regulatory and policy agendas (health, active mobility, community, youth) to mainstream mosaic GI. Transnational partners jointly develop 6 pilots, strategies and action plans for co-creating GI mosaics in varied dense urban settings (heritage, deprived, commercial) with common climatic challenges, enriching solutions with shared expertise (Dordrecht; greening, Nantes; community engagement, STIPO; placemaking) unavailable at local level. The collective tools developed will drive scaling to 30 city areas, 5 other NWE cities, and (via training), 170+ NWE participants. Results will drive national policy (NL City Deal on public space), influencing NWE cities.

Actual Achievements (EN):

The GreenDense project, aimed at advancing green infrastructure (GI) in dense urban areas across North-West Europe, has achieved progress through collaborative efforts and strategic planning. The initial phase of the project has laid a strong foundation for its objectives, with valuable insights gained. The project commenced with the establishment of essential administrative procedures, ensuring a smooth start. An initial version of the work and deliverables plan for the first year was developed, outlining the project's key activities and expected outcomes. Additionally, the communication and dissemination strategy was co-developed during workshops in the kick-off meeting, focusing on how to effectively share project goals and achievements with stakeholders and the public. A kick off partner meeting was held in Dordrecht in March, and planning has commenced for the upcoming in person partner meetings (Brugge in September) and the 6-weekly online progress meetings have been planned (of which one has also already taken place on 6/6/2024). The main achievement of the initial phase has been in terms of diagnosis of city challenges when implementing dense urban GI (A.1.1). During the kick-off meeting City Diagnosis workshop (D.1.1.3) held in Dordrecht, partners convened to review urban challenges and define pilot sites. This workshop, supported by TU Delft and Plante & Cite, facilitated a collaborative environment where cities benefited from the shared experience of local authorities and the expertise of the knowledge partners. TU Delft has also made significant progress developing a systems thinking approach to the urban greening challenges faced by NWE cities, and developed an accessible data analysis methodology (D.1.1.4) that can be disseminated to improve identification of in-need areas. Additionally, the partnership has begun to explore challenges in biodiversity and innovative planting, alongside challenges in terms of citizen participation, offering the benefits of joint experience to feed into knowledge partner analysis. Beyond the diagnosis work, some city partners (Brest Metropole, Dordrecht, Mechelen, Cork) have been frontrunners in launching initial work on their mosaic GI pilot sites, ensuring that lessons learned can be shared with the consortium. A major focus has been on community engagement, with co-creation processes allowing residents to actively participate in designing green spaces (A.2.3). For example, Dordrecht held a co-design workshop where residents used interactive tools to envision neighborhood changes, while Mechelen has involved citizens in planning new greening projects on narrow streets (A.2.3). This engagement fosters a sense of ownership and ensures that GI solutions reflect local needs. On a transnational level, cooperation between project partners has been critical. Cities have exchanged knowledge and aligned efforts, e.g. Brest working closely with public stakeholders to advance its GI pilot and sharing best practices with other cities (A.2.3). These collaborative efforts help overcome technical and social challenges while enriching the partnership with shared expertise.

Project outputs: 1 Joint NWE Mosaic GI Strategy for GI design and implementation(EN)
Mosaic GI Action Plans(EN)
Transnational Mosaic GI pilot in cultural heritage areas(EN)
Transnational Mosaic GI pilot in private spaces(EN)
Transnational Mosaic GI pilot in deprived areas(EN)
Transnational Mosaic GI pilot in mobility infrastructure(EN)
GreenDense Handbook for mosaic GI implementation in dense urban areas(EN)
Participation in GreenDense training schemes (Academy, deep dives and clinics)(EN)
Website: http://greendense.nweurope.eu

Thematic information

Waste and pollution Climate change and biodiversity

Priority: (VI-B_NWE_1) Smart climate and environmental resilience for NWE territories

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 079 Nature and biodiversity protection, natural heritage and resources, green and blue infrastructure

Partners (9)

Lead Partner: Gemeente Dordrecht

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 925726000

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL001915794B01

Department: Green-Blue City

Address: Spuiboulevard, 6941AA Dordrecht, Netherlands

Department address: Spuiboulevard, 6941AA Dordrecht, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.dordrecht.nl

Total budget: EUR 968 761.25

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 581 256.75

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 387 504.50

STIPO VOF

Name: STIPO VOF

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 898831295

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL857161313B01 | 67752209 | Chamber of Commerce registration number (EN)

Address: Overhoeksplein , 1031 KS Amsterdam, Netherlands

Department address: Overhoeksplein , 1031 KS Amsterdam, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.stipo.nl

Total budget: EUR 196 753.34

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 118 052.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 78 701.34

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Technische Universiteit Delft

Name: Technische Universiteit Delft

Department: Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment / Urbanism department / section Landscape Architecture / Urban Ecology & Ecocities Lab

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999977366

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL001569569B01 | 410995633 | DUNS number (EN)

Address: Stevinweg, 2628 CN Delft, Netherlands

Department address: Julianalaan, 2628 BL Delft, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.tudelft.nl/en/architecture-and-the-built-environment

Total budget: EUR 331 760.77

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 199 056.46

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 132 704.31

Plante & Cité

Name: Plante & Cité

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 920842535

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 488701095

Address: Rue Le Nôtre, 49 045 Angers, France

Department address: Rue Le Nôtre, 49 045 Angers, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://www.plante-et-cite.fr

Total budget: EUR 237 217.25

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 142 330.35

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 94 886.90

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Brest Métropole

Name: Brest Métropole

Department: Green spaces department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 939782076

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR 9424290031 | 242900314 | INSEE Reference (EN)

Address: rue Coat-ar-Gueven, 29200 Brest, France

Department address: rue Coat-ar-Gueven, 29200 Brest, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.brest.fr

Total budget: EUR 436 050.92

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 261 630.55

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 174 420.37

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcaí (CCC)

Name: Comhairle Cathrach Chorcaí (CCC)

Department: Parks & Recreation Service

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 986290763

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 0005426M - IE

Address: Anglesea Street, T12 T997 Cork, Ireland

Department address: Anglesea Street, T12 T997 Cork, Ireland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.corkcity.ie

Total budget: EUR 442 440.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 265 464.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 176 976.00

Stad Mechelen

Name: Stad Mechelen

Department: Team Climate

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 951863620

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 0207.499.430

Address: Grote Markt , 2800 Mechelen, Belgium

Department address: Grote Markt , 2800 Mechelen, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.mechelen.be

Total budget: EUR 451 805.05

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 271 083.03

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 180 722.02

Contractors:

Name: VERHELST BOUWMATERIALEN
VAT registration or tax identification number: BE 0405.301.929

Stad Brugge

Name: Stad Brugge

Department: Public Domain

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 914720283

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0207528035

Address: Burg, 8000 Bruges, Belgium

Department address: Hoogstraat, 8000 Bruges, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.brugge.be

Total budget: EUR 427 825.39

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 256 695.23

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 171 130.16

Senatorin für Umweltschutz, Klima und Wissenschaft - SUKW

Name: Senatorin für Umweltschutz, Klima und Wissenschaft - SUKW

Department: 43 – Adaptation to Climate Change

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998928796

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE327599977

Address: Contrescarpe , 28195 Bremen, Germany

Department address: An der Reeperbahn, 29217 Bremen, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.bauumwelt.bremen.de/

Total budget: EUR 467 903.37

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 280 742.02

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 187 161.35

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Greening dense urban areas for enhanced climate resilience, biodiversity and health

Project acronym: GreenDense

Project ID: NWE0200311

Project start date: 2024-01-01

Project end date: 2027-08-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Nature4Cities, Horizon (EN) | Nature4Cities was a horizon research project, including GreenDense partner Plant & Cité within its consortium, which created a comprehensive reference platform for Nature Based Solutions (NBS). It encompasses technical solutions, methods, and tools for incorporating NBS in the urban planning and decision making processes. Additionally, the platform includes guidance for collaborative models for citizen participation in implementation. The project resulted in a number of tools which offer synergies for GreenDense. Partners will draw on factsheets on NBS, Environmental Assessment tool, and the SUA Urban Performance tool, which helps estimate benefits of NBS, while designing the specific GI interventions used in pilots. GreenDense will also build upon the methodologies outlined during Nature4Cities to assess and analyse the performance of pilots. For community collaboration, the project also created a Citizen’s Say tool and Step-by-step guide on Engagement strategies which GreenDense will utilise, adapt, and combine with additional strategies (many developed by STIPO, and within the cities themselves) for effective engagement. (EN), Cool Towns, 2 Seas Program (EN) | Cool Towns was an Interreg 2 Seas project focused on reducing heat stress in cities with street-level solutions. With heat stress being one of the many urgent issues facing NWE cities that GreenDense will help mitigate with increased GI, there are a number of synergies to harness from Cool Towns. GreenDense will make use of the model developed by Cool Towns to map heat stress and improve heat resilience planning, incorporating it into the GreenDense toolbox to equip local authorities with the tools to map the most impactful locations for new GI. While heat stress is only one aspect tackled by GreenDense, CoolTown’s practices and learnings on building capacity and urgency for heat resilient design and effective measures that combine with other benefits (air quality, flood protection), offer key lessons in integrating GI into all policies, which will be drawn upon during GreenDense. (EN), Water Resilient Cities, Interreg 2 Seas (EN) | GreenDense partners Bruges and Mechelen were partners of WRC, a project developing guidance to retrofitting sustainable urban drainage in constrained public spaces with added societal benefits (S.O.1). The SuDS Guide, delivered as an output from the project, offers transferable learnings for GreenDense - in particular, GreenDense will incorporate guidance and lessons on recommendations for delivering SuDS in confined urban environments into A1.2. Although GreenDense is focusing on GI rather than drainage solutions, many of the recommendations and case studies provide transferable lessons into GI design and delivery processes for small spaces. (EN), BEGIN, Interreg NSR (EN) | BEGIN, a REGIOSTARS public choice award winning project, led by GreenDense lead partner Dordrecht, demonstrated how to use social innovation to implement Blue and Green Infrastructure (BGI) to deal with extreme weather events and improve disaster resilience in NSR. GreenDense will draw on the methodology of City-2-City learning used extensively in BEGIN to foster extensive peer learning and accelerate capacity building during the project (A3.1). GreenDense will also adapt and draw on learnings from the social innovation and collaborative governance strategies demonstrated during BEGIN. Although the topic and territory differ, the best practices for community stakeholder engagement can be replicated to facilitate effective engagement. Learnings will be drawn from BEGIN policy briefs ‘Social Innovation for Delivering BGI’ and ‘BGI for Art & Community’, both of which combine the key recommendations for creative, innovative engagement of varied stakeholders in BGI design, delivery and maintenance, which will feed into GreenDense community engagement methods, and pilot co-creation and activation techniques. During BEGIN the CIRIA Benefits EStimation Tool (B£ST Tool) was developed to provide an economic valuation of the benefits of additional GI. GreenDense will also harness this tool and methodology where appropriate to provide additional justification and budget for new GI. (EN), NSCiti2S, Interreg 2 Seas (EN) | The NSCiti2S project jointly co-created and validated a business model for local authorities to deploy GI in urban landscapes in order to build climate resilience to floods, heat stress and drought. The toolkit developed will be useful for GreenDense, particularly during A1.4 which deals with innovative financing for GI. The recommendations in the toolkit will be used, and built upon with additional collaborations to further unlock financing and to value the investment in GI. Effective valuation of GI will contribute to justification of additional Mosaic GI implementations identified and planned for in the project’s action plans. (EN), Biodiverse Cities, Interreg NSR (EN) | GreenDense partners Bremen, Dordrecht and Brest (as a follower) are part of Biodiverse Cities (BC), an NSR project focused on implementing nature-based solutions within urban environments that specifically support biodiversity (S.O.1). The project focuses on how to restore ecosystems within the urban realm, and create places where nature and people thrive. The pilots in BC are in larger areas like green axes, green rings and bigger parks in urban and peri-urban areas. As the two projects will run during the same time they will ensure that common activities and training (Peer Learning Programme of BC and Academy of GreenDense) can benefit both project partners, setting up meaningful knowledge transfers and a wider network for capacity building. The output of Biodiverse Cities “Nature-inclusive societies Strategy and action plans” will enrich the partners and outcomes of GreenDense in terms of better understanding of the challenges, failures and best practices, complexities and opportunities while greening urban areas. (EN), SALUT4CE Interreg Central Europe (EN) | The SALUTE4CE project developed the concept of Urban Environmental Acupuncture (UEA). This consists of selective GI interventions in the urban environment, focusing on neglected small plots in lieu of large scale projects. While GreenDense focuses on locations with high demand for use rather than neglected plots, GreenDense can find synergies with the output of SALUTE4CE, drawing on its technical solutions and methodology to inform the selection of plots and optimum choice of GI interventions for small urban spaces.
The project Handbook on Urban Environmental Acupuncture provides useful guidance for GreenDense in a number of technical areas. GreenDense will draw on the knowledge produced relating to interventions for soil de-sealing, GI for heat reduction, storm water mitigation, increasing air quality, and plant selection. While the territorial context is different, many of the principles and recommendations - e.g. debates on native species selection, and characteristics of various NBS design options for urban spaces - remain applicable, and GreenDense will draw on the research outcomes outlining best practice for GI design and vegetation species selection, applying it to the NWE context. (EN), Cool Neighbourhoods NWE (EN) | Cool Neighbourhoods is an Interreg NWE project running in parallel to GreenDense - GreenDense’s lead partner Dordrecht has joined Cool Neighbourhoods as an associated organisation and Middleburg, the lead partner for Cool Neighbourhoods has joined GreenDense as an associated organisation. The project follows on from Cool Towns 2 Seas, finding urban solutions for heat stress in NWE at neighbourhood level. Although GreenDense focuses specifically on the hardest areas to green, dense urban areas, Cool Neighbourhoods has similar goals of reducing rapidly rising heat stress in NWE at local level. As GreenDense is an associated organisation in Cool Neighbourhoods, partners will benefit from shared webinars, knowledge transfer, and in-depth capacity building on the heat reduction aspects of implementing GI. Cool Neighbourhoods representatives will attend the GreenDense Academy, clinic sessions, and deep dives where appropriate, helping cross-sharing of ideas. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 3 960 517.34

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 376 310.39

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 60.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 2 376 310.39. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Infrastructure investments:

I2.1 - Green pearls - Mechelen - EUR 55 000.00 - country: Belgique/België (BE), town: Mechelen, street: -, -, postal_code: 2800, Prov. Antwerpen (BE21), Arr. Mechelen (BE212)
I2.2 - Softening plan - Brugge - EUR 150 000.00 - country: Belgique/België (BE), town: Bruges , street: - , -, postal_code: 8000, Prov. West-Vlaanderen (BE25), Arr. Brugge (BE251)
I2.3 - Palaren Road Mobility Corridor - Brest - EUR 200 000.00 - country: France (FR), street: Moulin Blanc, -, postal_code: 29200, Bretagne (FRH0), Finistère (FRH02)

Deliverables:

Dense Urban Area GI Challenge Diagnosis Report
Cities Core Challenges Mapping and Assessment
City Diagnosis Workshop and Baseline Development
GreenDense GI Diagnosis Framework
Transnational Workshop on Existing Urban
Solutions for Multi-use, Multi-benefit GI
Mosaic GI Toolbox for dense areas
Webinar on state of the art Community Engagement and Participation Techniques
Guidebook: Methodology for Effective Community Engagement for mosaic GI Implementation
Transnational Workshop on Long-term Sustainability and Maintenance of Mosaic GI Solutions
Manual for long-term sustainability and maintenance of mosaic GI
Preliminary NWE Mosaic Strategy
Design-Thinking Workshop on Mid to Long-Term Goals
35 GI Mosaic Project Plans
Mosaic GI Action Plan Drafts
Assessment of Preliminary NWE Mosaic Strategy
GreenDense project communication strategy
GreenDense Project Branding Pack
Communication Channels
Communication Amplification Strategy
4 Mosaic GI Transnational Workshops
4 Mosaic GI Transnational Pilot Plans
4 Mosaic GI Transnational Pilot Plans (Investments)
Clinics Digests on Design, Implementation and Assessment
Clinics Digests on Design, Implementation and Assessment
Clinics Digests on Design, Implementation and Assessment
Clinics Digests on Design, Implementation and Assessment
Local Co Creation Event Plans
Local Co Creation Event Plans (Investments)
Local Co-Creation Events
Local Co Creation Events (Investments)
Community of Practice Consultation Results
Community of Practice Consultation Results (Investments)
Individual GreenDense Project Designs
Individual GreenDense Project Designs (Investments)
Pre Implementation Readiness Assessment
Pre Implementation Readiness Assessment (Investments)
Mosaic GI Site Permits
Mosaic GI Site Permits (Investments)
Mosaic GI Site Recordings
Mosaic GI Site Recordings (Investments)
Creative Mosaic Launch Events
Community Activation Videos
Maintenance Models
Maintenance Models (Investments)
Stakeholder Acceptance Survey Design
Additional KPI's
Dataset from Monitoring and Evaluation Process
GreenDense impact report
Local communications Toolkit
Co-creation Event Promotion
Mosaic Site Progress Content
GI Ambassador Training
Activation Event Promotion
GreenDense knowledge nuggets
GreenDense knowledge nuggets
GreenDense knowledge nuggets
GreenDense knowledge nuggets
GreenDense knowledge nuggets
GreenDense knowledge nuggets
GreenDense knowledge nuggets
GreenDense Academy Training
GreenDense Academy Training
Mosaic GI Academy online module
GreenDense Academy Mosaic Replication Designs
Clinic Digests on Policy Mainstreaming and Governance
Clinic Digests on Policy Mainstreaming and Governance
Individual meeting report from policy and governance roundtables
Individual event for replication
6 Small-scale festivals
Competition Content
GreenDense Festival
GreenDense Dissemination Strategy
GreenDense Dissemination Report
GreenDense Case Studies

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 081 - Participations in joint actions across borders, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 081 - Completions of joint training schemes, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR 1: Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across borders, Measurement unit: Organisations

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-05-12

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

70 / 70 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

739 / 739 (100%)

Notes on the data

Languages

Contact Form

Greening dense urban areas for enhanced climate resilience, biodiversity and health

Description

Thematic information

Partners (9)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer