Addressing Land Scarcity in a Changing Urban Context

As urban pressures continue to grow, Lille Metropole (MEL) faces an increasing challenge: reconciling development needs with the preservation of natural and agricultural land. The scarcity of available land, combined with evolving housing, mobility and economic demands, calls for new approaches to land-use optimisation.

In response, Lille Metropole is strengthening its involvement in European innovation projects. The SPACE-UP project, funded under the Horizon Europe programme, aims to improve how urban space is used by introducing systemic and innovative solutions for land management.

A European Consortium Driving Innovation

Selected under the Horizon Europe call dedicated to sufficiency in the built environment, SPACE-UP brings together a consortium of leading European partners, including the Fraunhofer Institute (Germany), ICLEI, IEECP, CSTB, the National Technical University of Athens, REGEA and the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona.

Within this collaborative framework, Lille Metropole joins forces with key European actors and territories to explore new ways of managing land resources more efficiently, while benefiting from shared expertise and cross-border experimentation.

Towards a More Efficient & Sustainable Use of Space

The project is built around five key objectives designed to transform how land and urban spaces are managed. It seeks to promote integrated policy approaches at regional level, identify and overcome non-technical barriers, and quantify the potential for reducing land consumption through improved resource management strategies, including the more sustainable use and reuse of construction materials.

A central component of SPACE-UP is the development of advanced decision-making tools. By combining geospatial data and artificial intelligence, the project will enable more accurate mapping of land-use potential and support more informed, data-driven planning decisions.

Data, Digital Tools and New Governance Models

SPACE-UP places strong emphasis on digital innovation, particularly through the development of geospatial analysis tools and indicators. These tools will help identify underused or vacant spaces, streamline land-use analysis and support strategic planning at metropolitan scale.

For Lille Metropole, the project will contribute to the development of shared indicators, GIS processing methods and long-term digital solutions, while feeding into broader initiatives such as digital twins and GeoAI applications.

A Regional Approach to Urban Transformation

Alongside Barcelona and the North-West Croatia Energy Agency (REGEA), Lille Metropole will play a key role in implementing and testing land management strategies across urban, peri-urban and rural contexts. These territories act as coordinators of urban development dynamics, with the capacity to mobilise municipalities, data and governance tools.

This regional and metropolitan approach ensures that solutions developed within SPACE-UP are both operational and adaptable, supporting integrated planning across housing, mobility, energy and land use policies.

Beyond technological innovation, the project also aims to strengthen the capacities of professionals involved in the built environment. By developing practical tools and evidence-based recommendations, SPACE-UP will support public authorities and practitioners in making more efficient and sustainable land-use decisions.

A Strategic European Investment

SPACE-UP represents a significant opportunity to accelerate ongoing work on land-use optimisation. The project will involve regular exchanges with European partners, fostering continuous learning and collaboration.

Expected to launch in July 2026, SPACE-UP marks a new step in Lille Metropole’s commitment to innovative, data-driven and sustainable territorial planning. By combining policy integration, digital tools and European cooperation, the project contributes to shaping more resilient and resource-efficient metropolitan environments.