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Cool Towns European Union Funding

Value of EU grant - €407,821.05

Name of funding programme - Interreg 2 Seas Programme 2014-2020

Start and end dates - September 2018 to September 2022

The Cool Towns project is for the spatial adaptation for heat resilience in small and medium sized cities in the 2 seas region. It aims to help urban areas in England, the Netherlands, Belgium and France minimise the heat-related effects of climate change by:

  • improving the understanding of overheating risk and effective heat management in urban areas
  • increasing awareness and use of green and blue infrastructure to reduce heat stress through urban design
  • demonstrating effective heat resilience through pilot investments

For more information about the project visit:

  • Gemeente Middelburg (Netherlands)
  • Gemeente Breda (Netherlands)
  • Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen (Belgium)
  • Stad Oostende (Belgium)
  • Southend on Sea Borough Council (SBC) (United Kingdom)
  • University of Greenwich (United Kingdom)
  • Université Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV) (France)
  • GreenBlue Urban (United Kingdom)
  • AUD Agence d'Urbanisme et de Développement de la Région de Saint-Omer et Flandre Interieure (France)
  • Hogeschool van Amsterdam (Netherlands)
  • Sioen Industries (Belgium)
  • Communauté d’agglomération du Pays de Saint Omer (France)

Observer partners

  • Provincie Zeeland (Netherlands)
  • Waterschap Scheldestromen (Netherlands)
  • Provincie Noord-Brabant (Netherlands)
  • Waterschap Brabantse Delta (Netherlands)
  • Gemeenschappelijke Gezondheidsdienst Zeeland (Netherlands)
  • Stad Brugge (Belgium)
  • Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (Belgium)
  • Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (Belgium)
  • Stad Mechelen (Belgium)
  • BSGO! De Reigers (Belgium)
  • Gemeentebestuur Merelbeke (Belgium)
  • Université de Lille (France)
  • Centre Ressource du Développement Durable (France)
  • NKWK Onderzoeksprogramma Klimaatbestendige Stad (Netherlands)
  • Stadsbestuur Eeklo (Belgium)
  • Proefcentrum voor de Sierteelt (Belgium)

  • Test and implement effective green and blue infrastructure to manage overheating risk in urban areas
  • Increase capacity of planning authorities, private and third sector organisations and the public to integrate heat stress reduction measures in urban design
  • Embed heat resilience in climate adaptation, spatial development, regeneration and growth strategies.

  • Increase in resilience to heat stress in urban areas
  • Develop new tools to map heat stress and identify effective measures to reduce overheating risk
  • Test the ease and effectiveness of implementing heat reduction measures in urban design

  • Build adaptation capacity to heat stress in urban areas in the county
  • Improve the ability to ensure quality of life in urban environments, both now and in the future
  • Increase public health and well-being outcomes by supporting delivery of nature-based design and resilience in Kent to minimise the impact of overheating.