Europe must take advantage of brownfield development’s potential to address affordable housing needs and reduce carbon emissions, a new report reveals.
At a glance
- Who: C40 Cities, Arup and Urban Partners.
- What: Report reveals brownfield development must play a role in enabling urban growth to meet the needs of Europe’s growing urban population. It sets out to address the traditionally challenging perception of brownfield regeneration by showcasing its potential to enhance housing affordability and curb urban sprawl while delivering attractive returns.
- Why: To manage the pressures of increasing urbanisation, C40 reckons both current and emerging European cities must adopt denser, more connected, and mixed-use models of urban development.
- When: C40 said regenerating brownfield sites within the existing urban fabric could meet most of Europe’s housing needs for the next 15 years.
Read more: Brownfield regeneration is crucial to solving Europe housing crisis
From sustainable transportation to renewable energy sources, discover how major European cities are becoming smart cities, putting city technology and innovation at the service of the environment and citizens.
European cities are undergoing a quiet but profound transformation: from simple places to live and work, they are becoming intelligent ecosystems where technology, data, and innovation enhance daily life.
Read more: Sustainable Smart Cities: 5 Cities That Are Improving Europe
The 2025 ProptechOS Smart City Index analyses 95 global cities, including the 50 largest cities by population in the US and 45 major cities across Europe.
Paris and Atlanta have claimed the top spots in Europe and the US, respectively, in the 2025 Smart City Index, compiled by real estate technology specialist ProptechOS.
In Europe, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Munich and Lisbon round out the top five, while in the US, Boston, San Francisco, Washington and Chicago account for the top five positions.
Importantly, the study also asserts that digital transformation is not a purely technological process. Even when infrastructure and digital tools are available, their potential remains underused unless populations possess the necessary competencies to leverage them effectively. This interdependence between skills and technology underscores the human dimension of Europe’s digital future.
A new study examining Europe’s digital readiness warns that the European Union’s digital transformation could be hindered by uneven progress in digital skills and infrastructure. Despite steady advancements in connectivity and digital services, the gap between high-performing and lagging countries continues to expand, posing challenges for the bloc’s competitiveness and its Digital Decade 2030 targets.
Read more: Europe’s digital divide widens as skills lag behind infrastructure growth
Factors such as green infrastructure, tech infrastructure, job opportunities and connectivity were assessed – and the same French city steals the crown
What makes a city ‘smart’, and which ones are best prepared for the future? It’s a big question, but thanks to this recently refreshed index, we’ve now got an idea.
According to ProptechOS, a ‘smart’ city scores well on 17 different factors, which all fall under three main categories: tech infrastructure and connectivity, green infrastructure and sustainability, and the tech job market.
Read more: These are Europe’s ‘smartest’ cities, according to a new index