The problem of multi - faced urban distress is common across many European cities. These urban areas suffer environmental, economic and social distress, resulting in political pressure to make rapid improvements to the quality of life.

The cities are facing difficulties in finding the solution to the main problem of integrating a strategic approach of sustainable rehabilitation and redevelopment of these areas.

European Commission has started the 5th programme "Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (1998-2002) " which focused directly on a number of pressing environmental and energy concerns. LUDA is a research project of key action 4 "City tomorrow and cultural heritage" of EESD.

The key question posed by the LUDA project is: How can an integrated strategic process of sustainable rehabilitation and development be initiated and better managed during its initial stages, given large urban distressed areas present complex problems, offer vague development prospects and are often accompanied by public pressure for rapid improvement?