News release
Sustainable Urban Fringes (SURF)
Partners from cities and regions across Europe have come together on a project
to raise the agenda for urban fringes.
Sustainable Urban Fringes (SURF) is a 3 year project, which aims to unlock the
potential of the urban fringe, the areas of landscape which link urban and rural
environments. These areas are often neglected, and under threat from urban
growth, expansion and inconsistent spatial planning policy.
Project partners from the UK, Germany, Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands
are working to deliver a common approach towards urban fringe development
and address the challenges facing these areas.
Urban Fringes are recognised as valuable assets, which can provide a high
quality environment in an urban setting, creating vital areas for the health and
well being of local communities.
The project started in September 2009 with the objective to achieve a more
sustainable future for urban fringes by –
• Reviewing urban fringe policies and developing a set of policy guidelines
to tackle issues of governance and spatial planning.
• Providing a common platform for experts and institutions to exchange
information, strategies and policies on dealing with urban fringes.
• Engaging policy analysis to tackle urban fringe challenges, which include:
complex issues of ownership and administration; declining biodiversity;
deteriorating water quality; low green space value; and poor access.
• Looking at the benefits urban fringes can bring to local communities
helping to create places where people want to live, work and do business.
Project partners are developing their own urban fringe initiatives to establish best
practice and share their experiences with project partners and the wider
community.
The Sustainable Urban Fringes (SURF) Project is part of the Interreg IVB North
Sea Region Programme and is partly funded by the European Regional
Development Fund.
Further information can be found on the project website at
www.sustainablefringes.eu
Ends
Please direct enquiries to Alison Leslie, Tel +44 01224 814609
Email: alleslie@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Notes to editors:
1. The Sustainable Urban Fringes (SURF) Project Partners are:
UK - Aberdeen City Council, School of the Built Environment at Leeds
Metropolitan University, City of Bradford and Norfolk County Council;
Netherlands: City of Enschede, Saxion University, City of Almelo and City of
Hengelo; Belgium: Province of East Flanders and Province of West
Flanders; Germany: City of Hamburg; and Sweden: Municipality of Harryda
2. The Interreg IVB, North Sea Region Programme promotes transnational cooperation
through four Programme priorities. The Sustainable Urban
Fringes (SURF) project was approved in 2009 under the “Delivers
Sustainable and Competitive Communities” category.
http://www.northsearegion.eu/ivb/home/
3. Interreg IVB, North Sea Region Programme is part of the European
Territorial Co-operation Programme which is supported by the European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
4. This programme is designed to encourage cross-border, trans-national and
inter-regional co-operation and balanced development of the European
territory.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/citiesandregions/european/europeanregiona
ldevelopment/europeanterritorialcooperation