Transformational Routemapping for Urban Environments (TRUE) was a collaborative research project funded by EPSRC (2016–2018) that addressed the systemic, interconnected challenges facing UK cities: inequality, crime, housing shortages, infrastructure congestion, carbon dependency, and environmental degradation.

The project adapted the Project Initiation Routemap framework, originally developed for large infrastructure programmes such as Crossrail and NHS England, into a diagnostic tool for city-scale problem solving. By mapping stakeholder capabilities against urban complexity, TRUE helped city leaders identify where integrated, cross-sector interventions could have the greatest impact.

Working directly with Leeds City Council, the team selected priority “Breakthrough Projects” to pilot and refine the approach. The result was an open-licence digital platform and training guidance transferable to cities across the UK and internationally.

Co-investigators: Mark Birkin, Phil Purnell, Nancy Madter, Janet Watson, Fionn Stevenson, Fiona Fylan (LBU) Funder: EPSRC | Duration: 2016–2018