Beautiful, inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods for communities

Revitalising neighbourhoods for communities to come together is about ensuring the right conditions. Innovative funding and new business models can provide the necessary framework and incentives to rethink how solutions and projects are designed, planned, executed, and invested in for the structural and systemic transformation of neighbourhoods^[1] in line with New European Bauhaus (NEB) values^[1] and working principles^[1]. Demonstrating the socioeconomic, environmental, financial, aesthetic^[4] and cultural value creation of NEB-aligned solutions and projects can incentivise stakeholders in the built environment^[1] and its related ecosystems (e.g. construction^[1], banking, insurance, social economy, and real estate) to invest and participate in the circular^[1], inclusive^[1], affordable, accessible, sustainable^[1] and culturally significant revitalisation of neighbourhoods. New business and innovative funding models are thus crucial to encourage long-term and life-cycle thinking in the built environment while enhancing its long-term, sustainable competitiveness.

This Destination will address three of the Commission political guidelines 2024-2029, namely:

1. A new plan for Europe’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness
2. Supporting people, strengthening our societies and our social model
3. Sustaining our quality of life: Food security, water and nature

This Destination supports the NEB Facility’s overarching aim to drive the implementation of the European Green Deal on the ground. Its focus on circular economy principles, biodiversity, responsible and sufficient use of natural resources, and sustainable competitiveness contributes to the Clean Industrial Deal^[10], EU Circular Economy Action Plan^[11], new Circular Economy Act^[12], Zero Pollution Action Plan^[13], EU Biodiversity Strategy^[14], and European Climate Adaptation Plan^[15]. This Destination also seeks to engage local stakeholders and the local social economy in neighbourhood transformation while addressing community^[1] challenges and needs as well as better understanding and leveraging appropriate market dynamics. It thereby offers potential contributions to the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy^[17]. By focusing on the reuse of the existing building stock, the provision of key social infrastructures^[1] and services, and addressing homelessness^[1] at neighbourhood level, it also contributes to the EU Renovation Wave^[20] and potentially contributes to the European Affordable Housing Plan^[21].

In work programme 2026-2027, this Destination contributes to the following overarching expected impacts set out in the Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027:

8. Realising the full potential of cultural heritage, arts, and cultural and creative sectors

9. Strengthening social and economic resilience and sustainability

15. Achieving global leadership in climate-neutral, circular and digitized industrial and digital value chains

In addition, proposals for topics under this Destination should set out a credible pathway to contributing to the development of innovative funding and new business models for the transformation of neighbourhoods, and more specifically to one or several of the following impacts:

1. Better understanding of the contextual local conditions that drive or hinder sustainable neighbourhood developments and the uptake of NEB-aligned solutions and projects, such as capital and real estate market dynamics and socioeconomic, cultural, demographic, and climatic changes.
2. Anticipation and consideration of future needs, functions and inhabitants (including more-than-human^[1] perspectives) of neighbourhoods and their developments towards the future.
3. Demonstrated socioeconomic, financial, environmental, cultural, and aesthetic value of NEB-aligned solutions and projects driving the revitalisation of the built environment in neighbourhoods.
4. Increased investment in the transformation of neighbourhoods in line with NEB through alternative, innovative, and community-based investment and ownership approaches^[23].
5. Community and place-based approaches that adopt a systemic perspective and use co-creation^[1] approaches with diverse local stakeholders, including marginalised or underrepresented groups or those in a vulnerable situation, and contribute to addressing pressing community challenges and needs such as homelessness and housing.
6. ⁠Circular manufacturing, renovation, and reuse approaches in the built environment contribute to the sufficient use of resources and space.

When possible and relevant, actions are strongly recommended to collaborate with and build on the results of past and ongoing research projects, including regional, national or European funded projects, to ensure consistency and continuity in research.

[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 in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

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

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

[6] See definition 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] European Commission, ’Clean Industrial Deal’, accessed 5 August 2025, https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/clean-industrial-deal_en

[11] European Commission, ’Circular Economy Action Plan’, accessed 5 August 2025, https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/circular-economy-action-plan_en

[12] Under development and with expected adoption by the end of 2025.

[13] European Commission, ’Zero Pollution Action Plan’, accessed 5 August 2025, https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/zero-pollution-action-plan_en

[14] European Commission, ’Biodiversity Strategy 2030’, accessed 5 August 2025, https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en

[15] European Commission, ’EU Adaptation Strategy’, accessed 5 August 2025, https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/adaptation-climate-change/eu-adaptation-strategy_en

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

[17] European Commission, ’EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy’, accessed 5 August 2025, https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-research-and-innovation/jobs-and-economy/eu-startup-and-scaleup-strategy_en

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

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

[20] European Commission, ’Renovation Wave’, accessed 5 August 2025, https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-performance-buildings/renovation-wave_en

[21] European Commission, ’European Affordable Housing Plan’, accessed 5 August 2025, https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14670-European-Affordable-Housing-Plan_en

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

[23] See the NEB Investment Guidelines for more information. European Commission, ’NEB Investment Guidelines’, New European Bauhaus, accessed 5 August 2025, https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/tools-and-resources/neb-investment-guidelines_en . Sections of particular relevance for applicants to consider include: 1. Introduction; 2. Mapping the NEB; 4.4 Project risks; 5. Making the NEB case; and 6. Conclusions.

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

Expected Outcome:

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

• Evidence of the structural social infrastructure^[1] and services needed to address homelessness^[1] at neighbourhood^[1] level is made available to stakeholders involved in tackling homelessness.
• Improved availability and accessibility of key social infrastructure and services for homeless groups in the targeted neighbourhoods.

Scope:

Based on 2024 data, over 1.2 million people are estimated to experience homelessness in Europe^[4], with a significant proportion (45%) of surveyed homeless individuals finding themselves in a situation of chronic homelessness for over two years^[5].

While housing-led approaches^[1] are crucial to tackle homelessness, addressing the structural and multidimensional causes of homelessness also requires systemic interventions focusing on social infrastructure and services in neighbourhoods. Social infrastructure and services include the physical places as well as public and community^[1] sector facilities and services that support and enable access to healthcare, employment, education, community integration, and other social services. They must be developed and made available in a coordinated manner that mitigates the interconnected root causes of homelessness in the long term and supports the reintegration and social inclusion of individuals in communities by avoiding long-term dependence on emergency support. This is especially important considering that chronic homelessness is often accompanied by a complex mix of needs and physical and psychological functional variations.

Research is required on how to analyse the interconnected, contextual conditions that drive and mitigate homelessness at the neighbourhood level and how to inform strategies to structurally address homelessness.

Proposals are expected to address all of the following:

• Develop a system-based approach to mitigate homelessness and support the reintegration of individuals in communities by coordinating key social infrastructure and services (including healthcare, education, employment, community integration and other relevant social services) at neighbourhood level. The approach must cover at least the following:
  • Analysis of local neighbourhood context and existing built environment^[1] in terms of availability and equitable access to relevant social infrastructures and services, particularly for chronic homelessness and marginalised groups or those in a vulnerable situation.
  • Assessment of the impact and potential correlation between infrastructure and service design in the built environment and the degree of homelessness in neighbourhoods.
  • Development of strategies to overcome challenges of coordinating key social infrastructure and services at neighbourhood level (such as data limitations and fragmentation, siloed and fragmented social service systems, and funding challenges for scalability).
  • Analysis of the views, willingness, and ability of homeless groups, especially those experiencing chronic homelessness, to engage with and benefit from the provided social infrastructures and services.
  • Assessment of the potential impacts on community (re)integration and participation^[9], well-being, social cohesion, and a sense of belonging in neighbourhoods for both homeless groups and the broader community in neighbourhoods.
  • Assessment of the socioeconomic impact of the system-based approach through measurable indicators on social infrastructure and service accessibility and use.
  • Provision of recommendations and guidance to apply the approach in other neighbourhoods, considering contextual factors such as unequal geographical distribution of and access to social infrastructure and services (considering factors including gender, sexual orientation, age, physical and psychological functional variations, or other relevant social factors), and local homelessness conditions.
• Develop and validate the approach in at least five neighbourhoods located in different Member States and/or Associated Countries.

Proposals are expected to follow a participatory^[1] and transdisciplinary^[1] approach through the integration of different actors and disciplines.

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 encouraged to exploit synergies with successful proposals from the topic ‘HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-01: Addressing homelessness through housing-led approaches aligned with the New European Bauhaus’ 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.

[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 in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[4] This figure represents rough sleepers, people staying in night shelters, and those in temporary accommodation for the homeless across Europe, including the UK.

[5] FEANTSA, ‘Homelessness in Europe The State of Play‘, NINTH OVERVIEW OF HOUSING EXCLUSION IN EUROPE, Chapter 1, 2024, "https://www.feantsa.org/public/user/Activities/events/2024/9th_overview/EN_Chap/1.pdf"https://www.feantsa.org/public/user/Activities/events/2024/9th_overview/EN_Chap/1.pdf

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

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

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

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