Changing conditions, such as the lack of public funding and an ageing population, challenge the development of historical old towns. These difficult economic and social transitions require new approaches regarding the involvement of private investors in the implementation of revitalisation measures. In addition, conflicts between people aiming at preservation and others promoting modernisation of inner-city areas have to be solved. Main aim of the ADHOC project is the development and implementation of innovative approaches for a sustainable renewal of historical old towns with numerous listed buildings. The project concentrates on urbanistic and integrative solutions to develop valuable inner-city districts under changed structural and demographic conditions. Project partners are small and medium-sized cities with large-scale historical old towns under monument preservation, political and professional institutions active in this field and research institutions in the field of urban and regional development. The project shall provide transferable methods for a sustainable development of historical old towns under monument preservation in the CADSES area. The co-operation of science and practical solutions should help to overcome existing conflicts between monument preservation and strategic urban renewal and to enable joint actions of the different stakeholders in order to guarantee sustainable maintenance and utilisation of the cultural heritage.