NeT-TOPIC FINAL CONFERENCE, L'HOSPITALET 2nd MARCH 2011

The Final Conference of the NeT-TOPIC thematic Network took place on the 2nd and 3rd of March 2011 in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, the Lead Partner of the network.

The closing ceremony aimed to present and share the main learnings and outputs achieved by the network during more than two and a half years of shared work. During the course of the project, partner cities had the opportunity to share experiences and learn from other practices as well as from experts and practitioners in urban issues, especially in relation to the development and consolidation of an urban identity; the enhancement of new forms of urban and metropolitan governance; tackling urban fragmentation caused by roads and communication infrastructures; recovering and restoring abandoned and obsolete industrial areas; and planning and managing the transformation from a mono-functional to a multi-functional city.

Following the opening by Mr. Fernando Barreiro, Lead Expert, and the presentation of the URBACT programme by Mr. Drubingy (Director of URBACT Programme), two expert speakers gave presentations relating to the network’s themes: Mr. Oliva (ar­chitect and urban planner) talked about urban planning and the creation of spaces of centrality; and Mr. Antrobus (Lead Member for Planning, Salford City Council and Lec­turer at the Open University) reflected on local limitations, centrality and peripherality.

After the introduction to the network themes, representatives from all partner cities presented their Local Action Plans drawn up with the support of their Local Support Groups as well as the main learnings and achievements from taking part in the network. NeT-TOPIC Local Action Plans are very diverse depending on each city reality in relation to the themes dealt at project level. As an illustration, some partner cities, such as L’Hospitalet, reflected on the urban transformation processes carried out so far and the future transformation process taking into account the new challenges and reality; Others such as Salford analysed the regeneration benefits and opportunities for surrounding neighbourhoods arising from important developments; some others such as Barakaldo has designed prototypes of interactive tools to improve the participative process in urban transformation processes. Please see below power points presentations on NeT-TOPIC Local Action Plans.

Mr. Fernando Barreiro also presented the main learnings and findings obtained as a result of the transnational exchange, and this will be included in the network’s Final Publication: Learnings, conclusions and guidelines for carrying out urban planning processes in peripheral cities of metropolitan areas. Other products such as the 3 Thematic Publications and the Bank of Urban Transfor­mation Processes were also presented.

More than 90 participants attended the event held in La Farga, an old forge closed in 1981 which currently operates as a multifunctional venue for exhibitions, congresses, seminars, concerts, etc. A space connected with the transformation of the city and thus a suitable setting in which to hold the final event of the project.

The Mayor of L’Hospitalet, Mrs. Núria Marín, congratulated all the partner cities for the work done during the course of the project and closed the event.

Power point presentations of the Local Action Plans & main learnings:

L'Hospitalet

Nanterre

Saford

Sesto San Giovanni

Barakaldo

Haidari

Sacele

Kladno

Mr. Oliva presentation: "Urban planning and spaces of centrality"

Councillor Antrobus presentation: "More than local? reflections on centrality and peripherality?"