The goal of the project was to find good practices for integrating urban heritage values in development processes of local communities. Project activities focused on methods to identify, analyse, evaluate and manage local historic characteristics in a sustainable way. Furthermore, the project aimed at strengthening national, regional and local efforts to enhance urban heritage as a local resource and an asset of identity. Its aim was also to develop strategic networks and form guidelines for management of the urban heritage. The partnership involved national, regional and local authorities, researchers, professionals and NGOs.Unlike single monuments, urban historic areas cannot be isolated from development. The challenge of our time is to balance the urban transformation in a sustainable way. Historic characteristics should be used as a current asset of societal well-being. Urban environmental values should be enhanced on a cross-sector basis involving local community.Today, global challenges put increasing pressure on local built characteristics in BSR, demanding integrated management and international agreements. These obligations call for proper decision aid, increasing co-operation and co-ordination. The activities of the SuHiTo-project have focused on improved ways to manage urban heritage by updating practices to include different levels of urban contexts and the dynamics of development. The partners involved are national, regional and local authorities, researchers and professionals in BSR.The Norwegian approach systematised urban heritage analyses via the DIVE (Describe-Interpret-Valuate-Enable) method, which was tested in the towns Røros and Mosjøen. In the town of Ystad in Sweden a type for municipal building code that covers local historical characteristics was elaborated. In the Finnish town of Forssa improved practices were tested to update aged preservation plan involving inhabitants. A method of inquiry aiming at mapping the local knowledge was used as part of pilot activities. The Estonian heritage authorities carried out analyses of urban heritage in small towns by national funding in interaction with the project. Achievements: Much of the work focused on country specific studies or pilot activities, in which different methods and approaches referring to the overall project goal were developed. The Norwegian partners developed a specific 4-step model that integrates urban heritage and its conservation in urban planning processes. The model follows a 4 step approach of 1 - Describe 2 - Interpret - 3 Valuate - 4 Enable (DIVE) and was tested in the town of Röros and it was also applied in the city of Mosjöen. In Sweden, the city of Ystad was chosen a pilot site. The pilot activities in Sweden included the elaboration of a comprehensive plan for urban conservation. Key elements in the plan were inventories, a town analysis, a preservation programme and updating of a good building code. In the Finnish town of Forssa the pilot activities produced new information and understanding of how to preserve a wooden town area. The studies carried out in Finland included development of tools for evaluating the citizens´ feelings, identity and understanding of the build environment. Results from the pilot activities as well as the main findings of the project were summarised in the project report Sustainable Historic Towns – Urban heritage as an Asset of Development. In addition, national reports were compiled.Apart from the country specific studies the project achieved a strengthening of an existing network in the Nordic countries by involving representatives from the Baltic countries. On a BSR level, the project proved to be a major actor contributing to the arrangement of an international conference in 2005. The project actively marketed the project work in an international context using the branch specific networks on both the BSR and European level. Suggestions for follow up activities were made, but did not yet results in funding.