The Sustainable Open Spaces II (SOS II) project intends to further develop the concept of open space examined in the IIC project, to consider ways in which the importance of landscape identity can be achieved. Over three years this ambitious project, which brings together 16 partners from five Member States, acknowledges the importance of retaining the quality of historical assets and stabilising the relationship between town and country. It seeks to i) conserve and enhance the cultural and natural heritage through a range of investments; ii) develop joint promotional strategies and tools for raising awareness of landscape identities; iii) establish a knowledge exchange network; and iv) promote a partnership for long-lasting activity on open space issues. The project embarks upon a number of joint actions or prototypes that will contribute to the creative enhancement of the NWEs heritage through various forms of expression: some 17 investments schemes are targeted at landscape identity, peri-urban area and park management, green corridor and forest protection, and the restoration of archaeological and disused military sites. In short, rather than conceiving of open space as the void in between strings of cities, the objective of the project is, in the longer term, to encourage new transnational perspectives on the role and positioning of rural areas in territorial planning. Achievements: These are four of our conclusions and recommendations. The full list is in our final report (3.2): The open space around cities is critically important to helping the regions and cities of Northwest Europe achieve their environmental sustainability objectives. This fact needs to be more explicitly recognised in formal strategies and suitable policies which enables open space to realise to its full potential; Periurban open space has a vital impact on peoples quality of life and adds to the regions competitiveness. There is a need to maximise access to periurban open space for recreation, leisure and tourism, including for deprived groups in society who under-uses access now. The increasingly recognised public health benefits for all social groups of accessible open space will grow in importance. This will increase the social benefits of periurban space and further justify public expenditure on its development; Landscape identity is a valuable concept for locating the cultural value in open space under urban pressure, for increasing economic value and for building the interest of residents, stakeholders and investors in open space under urban pressure through image building, publicity, participation and education.; Landscape marketing is a valuable strategy in realising the market value of open space under urban pressure and for designing appropriate development strategies. It is most effective when it is built on a coordinated landscape identity approach. The institutional set-up of the French Parcs Naturels Regionaux is a good model for functional integration of landscape identity, marketing and economic development and merits to be replicated (on a pilot basis) in other countries;