Complex urban development programme in Most (Czech Republic) financed from ERDF. Photo: MRI.
Project duration: November 2011- September 2013
Client: Directorate General of Regional and Urban policy
The aim of the study was to improve the understanding of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) used in housing projects, and how ERDF has fostered integrated approaches addressing housing, energy and socio-economic needs of deprived urban areas and communities. The study drew together information from all stages of policy and project development concerning the programming period of 2007-2013 to help assisting the use of ERDF in the 2014-20 programming period and the new Operational Programmes. MRI participated in the elaboration of the final report and led three case studies out of the ten (Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland).
The detailed analysis on the use of ERDF for housing purposes showed that ERDF was primarily used for the renovation of private multi-unit buildings in East-Central Europe while it contributed more to the refurbishment of the public housing stock in the old member states. The definition of “deprived neighbourhood” was differently interpreted in the different member states and while the subsidy schemes focused on the lowest status estates in some member states (like in Hungary) they supported the renovation of middle class housing complexes (e.g. in Poland) and concentrated less on social and more on energy problems of the housing stock.