First Live Meeting of the International Working Group on No Net Land Take in Europe

The ARL International Working Group In Pursuit of Net Zero Land Take in Europe held its first in-person meeting on 23–24 April 2026 in Ghent, Belgium. Hosted by HOGENT, the workshop brought together 22 academics and practitioners from 14 European countries to discuss how No Net Land Take policies are being developed and implemented across Europe.

Over two days, participants exchanged national perspectives, discussed key policy challenges, and explored topics such as densification, governance, downzoning, policy conflicts, and the transition from net zero to net gain. A shared analytical framework and country factsheets provided the basis for comparing different planning systems, land policy instruments, and implementation barriers.

The meeting marked an important starting point for the working group’s future collaboration. Its discussions highlighted that No Net Land Take is widely recognised as a key objective, but its implementation remains complex and strongly shaped by national planning systems, property rights, municipal incentives, and governance structures.

Read the full report (PDF)