From Anti-Sprawl to Urban Regeneration: Lessons from EU Governance Initiatives in the Flanders-Brussels Region

Purpose This paper investigates the challenge of urban sprawl in the Flanders–Brussels region, where fragmented suburbanization has undermined sustainable land use and mobility planning. The aim is to analyze European Union (EU) initiatives addressing sprawl and to develop an inclusive governance model that can inform urban regeneration policies at both regional and European scales. Methods The study combines a spatial–temporal analysis of LANDSAT imagery (1989 and 2019) with a review of Flemish spatial and mobility policies. It further examines EU-funded projects (SCATTER, PLUREL, SURF, and TransPLUS) to identify gaps in policy responses. A comparative analysis of drivers and governance structures was undertaken to design an integrated, multi-level framework against urban sprawl. Results Findings reveal that incoherent regional policies, coupled with accessibility-driven suburbanization, have accelerated dispersed development across the Flemish Diamond. While EU projects offer valuable insights for city cores, suburbs, peri-urban areas, and hinterlands, their fragmented focus limits effectiveness. The proposed governance model integrates these spatial segments under a cohesive structure, aligning local, regional, national, and EU levels to strengthen anti-sprawl and regeneration strategies. Conclusions The study demonstrates that addressing urban sprawl requires multi-actor, cross-territory governance spanning urban cores to rural hinterlands. By consolidating lessons from EU initiatives, the proposed model provides a transferable framework for compact and resilient urban regeneration across Europe and beyond.