Upcycling Trust is an EU-funded project examining how Community Land Trusts (CLTs) can help turn underused or vacant housing into permanently affordable homes through circular renovation. It brings together housing organisations, public authorities and research partners to develop a model that combines building upgrades with community ownership and long-term affordability.5610
The project runs pilots in five cities: Cork, Brussels, Ghent, Lille and Rennes. Across these locations, partners are developing and testing legal, organisational, technical and financial approaches; the programme aims to refurbish at least 150 homes using circular techniques.23 The wider project began in 2024 and is scheduled to run through 2028.46
In Cork, the pilot is being developed with Cork City Council, Self Organised Architecture Research CLG (SOA) and Cork Community Land Trust. The partners are working to identify a council-owned vacant home for renovation; the intended approach is to convert a social-rental dwelling into an affordable cost-rental home.28 SOA coordinates the Cork work, while Cork City Council is a local project partner.11
The project is part of the Interreg North-West Europe programme and is co-funded by the European Union.6 Its scope extends beyond the individual pilot homes: partners are using lessons from the five cities to shape a transferable approach to renovation, community stewardship and housing policy.36