Join us on 30 April for an engaging conversation on how European cities can invest in urban regeneration to drive competitiveness, growth, and innovation across Europe. During this session, Jesse Shapins from Urban Partners will present the organisation’s latest work on urban regeneration as a rapidly emerging and investable asset class. In an open and informal dialogue with Signe Kongebro, the discussion will examine insights from two recent publications and explore how cities, investors, and developers can translate ambition into concrete action. The conversation will draw on the following publications:
Unlocking Sustainable Urban Regeneration in Europe, by Urban Partners, C40 Cities, and Arup – a practical blueprint for sustainable brownfield regeneration, offering guidance for cities, investors, developers, and communities. The Copenhagen Way, by Urban Partners, Ramboll, and BLOXHUB – tracing Copenhagen’s journey from near bankruptcy to becoming one of the world’s most liveable cities.
Using neighbourhood-scale case studies such as King’s Cross in London and Nordhavn (North Harbour) in Copenhagen, the session will explore how large-scale brownfield regeneration. When enabled through strong public–private collaboration, patient capital, and high-quality design, it can deliver both robust financial performance and sustainable, climate-positive urban development. Particular attention will be given to how these approaches can help address one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: the shortage of adequate housing.
Signe is a Danish architect and global sustainability leader whose work has shaped contemporary thinking on resilient urban design. She serves as Global Director for Future Resilient Design at Ramboll, where she guides international strategies for climate‑adaptive architecture, low‑carbon urbanism, and nature‑based design solutions. Her career spans more than two decades at the forefront of sustainable architecture, research‑driven design, and large‑scale urban transformation.
Jesse is an urban entrepreneur who has been at the forefront of innovation and impact in cities for over 25 years. As Head of Urban Regeneration, he leads the creation of a large-scale sustainable urban regeneration fund, working with a select group of investors and forward-looking developers across Northern Europe’s growing cities, including Copenhagen, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, London, and Stockholm.
