Since the Great Recession of 2008, social inequalities have tended to increase across European cities. This trend is related to the evolution of residential segregation in major urban areas, where social groups are spatially separated according to their access to housing (Maurin, 2004; Secchi, 2010; Tammaru et al., 2016; Van Ham et al., 2021). Consequently, lower-income groups have increasingly concentrated in neighbourhoods where housing is relatively more affordable. These areas typically feature low-quality housing stock, urban deficiencies, limited service provision, and reduced accessibility. The social, economic, and political consequences of concentrating the most vulnerable populations in disadvantaged neighbourhoods have been extensively studied (Massey & Denton, 1988; Sampson, 2004; Nel·lo, 2021; Blanco & Gomà, 2022). In response to these challenges, several European countries have implemented area-based initiatives (ABIs) aimed at improving living conditions in disadvantaged neighbourhoods and addressing the causes and effects of urban segregation (Musterd and Ostendorf, 2023).

This thematic session aims to facilitate an exchange of experiences and knowledge on the following key aspects related to urban segregation and rehabilitation policies:

• The relationship between spatiotemporal inequalities and urban segregation, and how they have evolved over time.
• The structural and contextual factors influencing segregation in European cities.
• The evolution of segregation patterns and the social groups involved in these processes.
• Innovations in methodologies for studying urban segregation and their implications.
• Innovations in urban rehabilitation policies, including approaches, actors involved, targeted populations or neighbourhoods, resources mobilised, and the management of policy effects.
• Innovations in policy analysis, including ex-ante, ongoing, and ex-post assessments.

This session seeks to foster a comprehensive understanding of these issues, promoting the exchange of ideas and strategies among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers involved in addressing urban segregation and promoting more equitable urban polices.