PLAN B is a research by design project which focusses on spatial strategies that strengthen the vitality and adaptability of midsized inner cities. BURA (formerly known as marco.broekman) works together with Floor Ziegler and Stadkwadraat. PLAN B focuses on medium-sized cities outside the economic core area. These cities with a regional function have structural vacancy of retail, office real estate and leisure functions in their inner cities. But they also struggle to keep public services and institutions into their city. In three cities we will start with a comparative research in close collaboration with stakeholders in the cities: Heerhugowaard, Emmen and Oss. Through city expeditions to the three pilot cities we have already gained insight into the world of citymakers, entrepreneurs, civil cervants and owners in the midsized city. The cities have been working hard on their inner city, but are struggling to operationalize their visions and to find good ways of cooperation between stakeholders.

The emphasis is therefore to develop a concrete set of instruments (spatial, financial, organizational), and testing our multi-disciplinary approach. The study results in a final book with the research, but will also provide in a series of meetings, in which knowledge is shared, to reflect on the future of inner cities. We also want to start concrete projects in the pilot cities. The unique combination of our multi-disciplinary team of urban planners (BURA (formerly known as marco.broekman)), financial experts (Stadkwadraat) and city maker Floor Ziegler itself is also the subject of research and reflection. The pre-research was done from June until October 2016. The comparative research will run from January till October 2017.