Revitalising neighbourhoods around existing railway and motorway corridors

Expected Outcome

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• The use of the innovative solutions reduces the environmental, ecological, economic, social and health negative effects of existing, active railway lines and motorways[1] on demonstrator sites, contributing to their revitalisation.
• Improved adoption of solutions by the stakeholders such as local authorities, inhabitants, architects, engineers, landscape architects or urban planners.

Scope

Active railway lines and motorways are an integral part of the European landscape. However, they can be perceived as sources of disturbances such as pollutants, noise and air pollution, invasive alien plants species vectors, potential hazards, etc. Moreover, railways lines and motorway may negatively impact surrounding neighbourhoods[1] through which they pass, making them unsightly, neglected, unattractive as well as biodiversity harmful.

Innovative solutions are thus required to reduce the environmental, ecological, economic, social and health negative effects that active railway lines and motorways can have on surrounding neighbourhoods and to revitalise these places and turn them into more liveable, inclusive, safe, attractive and biodiverse ones in line with the sustainability[3], inclusion[1] and aesthetic[5] values of the New European Bauhaus.

Proposals are expected to address all of the following:

• Develop and demonstrate a package of measures to mitigate the negative effects of active railway lines and motorways on nearby neighbourhoods and revitalise those neighbourhoods. Implement this package of measures in three distinct neighbourhoods - one urban, one peri-urban, and one rural - located in different Member States and/or Associated Countries.
• Measure and assess the changes in environmental, ecological, economic, social and health impacts resulting from the package of measures developed and applied in the demonstrator sites.
• Identify barriers hindering the implementation of the proposed measures, including regulatory aspects and propose solutions to overcome them.
• Ensure the scalability and replicability of the measures through guidance and documented best practices for municipalities and relevant stakeholders.

Proposals are expected to follow a participatory[6] and transdisciplinary approach[1] through the integration of different actors and disciplines and to co-create[1] the solution(s), engaging with relevant stakeholders such as public authorities, architects, urban and landscape planners or inhabitants. Proposals are expected, to the extent possible, to contribute to the urban greening goal set in the Nature Restoration Regulation.

This topic requires the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH)[1] 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.

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 learning, as well as to contribute to impact assessment. Synergies should also be explored and, as appropriate, pursued with other relevant initiatives, such as the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail)[10].

[1] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[2] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[3] See definition of “Sustainable” in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[4] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[5] See definition of “Beauty” in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[6] See definition of “participatory process” in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[7] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[8] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[9] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[10] See https://rail-research.europa.eu/