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Upcycling Trust

International project

The Upcycling Trust (UT), funded by the Interreg NWE programme, addresses Europe’s twin crises of housing affordability and climate change. Buildings account for 40% of energy use and over one-third of CO₂ emissions, and 75% of the EU’s housing stock remains energy-inefficient. At the same time, access to decent, affordable housing is under pressure from rising costs, energy poverty and speculative markets. Without inclusive solutions, renovation policies risk fuelling renovictions and green gentrification, displacing the very households they are meant to support. 

Objectives: 

  • Deliver deep, circular renovations that align with EU climate goals (60% emissions reduction by 2030, zero-emission stock by 2050).
  • Ensure permanent affordability through transfer into Community Land Trust (CLT) or Organisme de Foncier Solidaire (OFS) ownership.
  • Prevent displacement by creating debt-free renovation pathways and protecting households from speculation.
  • Build a replicable European model linking climate resilience to housing justice.

Activities: 

  • Testing the model in five pilot cities (Brussels, Lille, Rennes, Ghent, Cork), each adapting the approach to its legal and market context.
  • Providing a one-stop-shop renovation service, from technical audits to financing and contractor coordination.
  • Transferring renovated homes into CLT/OFS structures to secure long-term affordability.
  • Promoting cross-border cooperation and policy advocacy for socially inclusive renovation strategies. 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): 

  • Homes renovated to high energy standards.
  • Tonnes of CO₂ avoided through reuse and circular renovation.
  • Households housed in permanently affordable CLT/OFS dwellings.
  • Community participation in governance, co-design, or renovation activities.
  • Replication: number of municipalities and organisations adopting the model. 

The Upcycling Trust demonstrates that the green transition can be both ecological and socially fair. Its pilots show how public investment can achieve lasting returns, creating highly efficient, affordable housing from the existing stock while ensuring that the value generated stays within communities.

The target audience is municipalities, social housing providers, community organisations, and low- to middle-income households seeking inclusive and climate-proof housing solutions.





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