During the last decade, all over Europe hundreds of policy makers, public officers, social scientists and ordinary citizens have been busy discussing, preparing, organising, defending, criticising and implementing programmes and projects that were intended to tackle urban problems and stimulate urban development. Individually, and collectively at local or national levels, they have built up a rich collection of practical knowledge about what worked and what did not. It is the aim of this handbook to present this knowledge in an encompassing, systematic and concise way to all those who are, or in the future will be, involved in the conception and implementation of UDP’s: Urban Development Programmes. What should be done? What should be avoided? What is feasible? What is not? Who should be involved at what moment? What are the benefits and pitfalls of an area-based, integral approach to urban renewal? How can the sustainability of results of UDP’s be improved? How to develop and use a budget? How can results be evaluated? These are some of the basic questions we will try to answer, using the experience of people in the field.