The challenge for REPAIR is the vital need for the “successful socio-economic re-use of abandoned military heritage sites to harness sustainable urban development”. All REPAIR network partners recognise that the socio-economic re-use of military sites, and therefore the local “Lisbon Agenda” achievements in relation to economic competitiveness, will ultimately be undermined in the medium to long term if sustainable urban development is not placed at the heart of this heritage site regeneration. 

Our network will focus on the development of innovative new local policy, which places sustainable urban development at the heart of regeneration action to achieve the socio-economic re-use of redundant military heritage.  This recognises that it is not sufficient solely to focus on achieving local economic competitiveness goals in line with the “Lisbon Agenda”.  Instead our network will emphasise that in the medium to long term such local competitiveness is not sustainable without adhering to the local delivery of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy.

We recognised the potential for regeneration of military heritage sites to harness sustainable urban development, provided a number of major local policy development challenges are addressed. We have based the overall outcome of our project on the interrelationship of four pillars taken from the principles laid down in the Gothenburg Agenda. We refer to these Four Pillars in simple terms as Energy, Preservation, Transport and Local Jobs.

What motivates you to be part of the URBACT adventure?
The URBACT Programme aims to foster the exchange of experience among European cities and capitalisation-dissemination of knowledge on all issues related to sustainable urban developement.  Medway sees this methodology as an excellent opportunity to benchmark its own development plans against those seen across Europe.

Who would you like to benefit from the work achieved in your project?
Naturally we want to see the benefits from this project felt by all the residents of Medway and of course all other areas in the United Kingdom.  As this is a European project the benfits derived through mutual learning should also benefit the European audience and across the globe.