The process of industrial change has resulted in the creation of so-called 'brownfields' across Europe, particularly in urban areas. These sites present 
particular challenges to national and regional policymakers, including the remediation of hazards to human beings, groundwater and ecosystems. But there 
is also a need to facilitate the reintegration of rehabilitated sites into the property market and to ensure that they can be brought back into new economic uses. 
The management of the increasing amount of derelict land in inner city locations is one of the most important issues on the agendas of today´s urban planners 
and property related private stakeholders. Taking into account the ongoing consumption of open space for housing, retailing and industry, it is recognised 
that a sustainable built environment cannot be achieved without re-integrating derelict land into the property markets and encouraging development back 
to central urban locations.    
    
Started in March 2002, RESCUE is a 36-month research project integrating the concept of sustainability into brownfield regeneration. Based on the analysis 
and evaluation of current practice in industrial core regions in France (Nord-Pas de Calais), United Kingdom (Derbyshire, North-East of England), Poland 
(Silesia) and Germany (Ruhr Area, Southern District of Leipzig), RESCUE distils best practice approaches at reduced costs and integrates its results into 
a holistic system approach containing new methodologies, procedures and instruments for a sustainable regeneration of European industrial brownfield 
sites. 
            

In the past, brownfield regeneration was predominantly discussed within the boundaries of the various disciplines involved, often with a focus on technical 
aspects. Integrating the concept of sustainability into brownfield regeneration, RESCUE overcame these boundaries and discussed the widespread economic, 
social, environmental and institutional facets of the topic in an integrated and equal way. The main objective of RESCUE therefore was to develop a holistic 
system approach for the sustainable regeneration of industrial brownfield sites in Europe. The RESCUE system approach is designed to raise the quality of 
brownfield regeneration projects, reduce open space consumption, support sustainable economic development and competitiveness, improve the sustainability 
of the built environment, improve the quality of life and cultural identity of citizens and improve urban management. 
            

Definition of sustainable brownfield regeneration:    
“Sustainable Brownfield Regeneration is the management, rehabilitation and return to beneficial use of the brownfield land resource base in such a manner 
as to ensure the attainment and continued satisfaction of human needs for present and future generations in environmentally non-degrading, economically 
viable, institutionally robust and socially acceptable ways.”    
RESCUE further specified this definition to mayor fields of work within brownfield regeneration, defining 33 sustainability objectives and 61 sustainability 
indicators for the management of contamination and the reuse of soil and debris, the management of existing buildings and infrastructures, land use and urban 
design, planning processes and methods for citizen participation, and the management of brownfield projects.    
Identification of strengths, weaknesses and gaps within the current practice in brownfield regeneration    
Eight RESCUE case studies, representing the current practise of brownfield regeneration in industrial core regions in France (Nord-Pas de Calais), Germany 
(Ruhr Area, South of Leipzig Region), Poland (Silesia) and the UK (Derbyshire, Tyne and Wear), have been analysed in terms of sustainability, using the RESCUE 
sustainability objectives and indicators as a yardstick. Within the case study projects, strengths, weaknesses and gaps have been identified for major fields 
of work within brownfield regeneration in terms of the sustainability objectives.    
Compilation of good and best practices    
Based on the identification of strengths, weaknesses and gaps, RESCUE compiled good and best practices. These represent a valuable source of ideas for the 
practical work of real estate owners, planners, architects, engineers and public authorities involved in brownfields.    
Recommendations and tools    
To support the good and best practice examples, RESCUE compiled and developed recommendations and tools for practical end users which help to achieve the 
sustainability objectives. These comprise e.g. planning instruments, guidelines, handbooks and checklists.    
Sustainability Assessment Tool (SAT)    
Sustainability cannot be defined generally for all brownfield projects since a land use, design or methodology that proved to be suitable at one site is not 
necessarily appropriate for another site, another context, another time or another mix of stakeholders with a different set of priorities. The RESCUE-SAT 
provides a methodology to consider variable parameters and conflicting priorities to assess future brownfield regeneration projects in terms of site / locale 
specific sustainability and thus to provide support for funding and/or permission decisions.    
Holistic system approach for sustainable brownfield regeneration in Europe    
The RESCUE system approach is presented in the Manual “Best Practice Guidance for Sustainable Brownfield Regeneration” as a clear, non-scientific, useful 
and significant guidance to support sustainable urban regeneration.    
Virtual Training Centre (VTC)    
The online RESCUE VTC allows newcomers to and practitioners in brownfield regeneration to acquire awareness and understanding of the broad spectrum of 
topics considered by the project.