PURE North Sea aimed to develop the various spatial functions of water catchment areas in the urban-rural fringe. The project focused especially on public participation, water quality and flood risks. Pilot projects and guidelines developed by the project, addressed various issues such as integrating water management into spatial planning, improvements with the multi-functionality of water, discovering water related identities, restored water systems and storm water management. Achievements: The outcomes of the PURE North Sea project fit very well with policy guidelines on the national and European level for spatial planning and water management and in specific cases, these policies have been implemented on the local and regional scale. For instance in the Netherlands this refers to the national policy guidelines 'Nota Ruimte' and 'Watertoets (WB 21)' on spatial planning and water management. PURE North East (UK) has informed the Environment Agency's implementation of the Water Framework Directive through the publication of the Developing Effective Partnerships Research and Development with Newcastle University, and by commenting on the Environment Agency's Water for life and Livelihoods Documents. PURE North East planners attended a regional workshop at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister developing guidance for Local Authority Planners.The North East catchment plans will be adopted as supplementary planning documents by some local authorities and this will certainly influence developments in these areas. The Water companies 5 year programme for 2005 -2010 now includes many improvements in the PURE catchments. The recommendations from the PURE Zandwetering Masterplan have been incorporated into the formal plan for the province of Overijssel in accordance with the national law 'Reconstructiewet concentratiegebieden'. The province of Overijssel made a regeneration plan following this law for regeneration areas for the Zandwetering area.