What makes a city truly happy? For our Future London Leaders cohort, the answer lies in redesigning London’s spaces, systems and services to support wellbeing.
Over six months of learning, field trips and collaboration, FLL40 explored how urban design can tackle loneliness, improve mental health, and make daily life more joyful for all Londoners.
Happiness might sound like an abstract goal, but it’s deeply practical. One in five Londoners experiences common mental health disorders, and nearly one in ten reports frequent loneliness. The built environment plays a huge role in shaping these outcomes — from whether you have a nearby park to the way streets are designed for safety and inclusion.
That’s why our Happy London theme challenged participants to ask: How can we design cities that nurture connection, equity, and joy?
From reimagining underused spaces as sports pitches for women and marginalised communities, to launching an “E-Chair” scheme that helps older residents move freely around the city, the cohort showed how everyday barriers can be turned into opportunities. They also explored more creative solutions — like LearnDN, a dynamic app that encourages lifelong learning through evolving playlists, and “green corridors” that transform neglected alleys into safe, nature-filled routes connecting neighbourhoods.
These bold ideas go beyond creative concepts – they are practical examples of how urban design and leadership can weave happiness into the fabric of city life.
We are proud of the energy, creativity, and engagement this group brought to the Happy London theme. Their work shows that wellbeing is not a luxury but a necessity, and that by designing with inclusion and joy, London can grow into a healthier, fairer, and more connected city.
The three winning proposals will be shared again at our upcoming event, Happy London: Building Wellbeing Through Place, where we’ll continue exploring how cities can put happiness at their heart. Register now
Favourite Idea
Building Second Chances
Luke Kon, Development Manager – GLA Housing & Land
This proposal tackles the long-term housing crisis for prison leavers by convening a roundtable of landowners, housing associations, CLTs and support providers to co-design pilot sites. While short-term housing and employment schemes exist, there’s a gap in sustainable, specialist housing. Models like Prisoners Building Homes, modular builds (e.g. Zed Pods) and self-build offer scalable solutions that also address skills shortages in construction. By aligning housing delivery with employment pathways, this initiative creates lasting impact for prison leavers. It joins the dots from release to reintegration, enabling second chances through secure housing.
Most Feasible
Sport, Space, and Social Connection
Izzy Theodoreson, Senior Business Consultant – The 4OC Ltd
London faces rising loneliness, youth disconnection, and pockets of underused land across the city. My proposal suggests transforming those spaces into small-sided football pitches, co-designed with local communities and enhanced by public art. These would offer open access play, structured youth programmes, and a sense of local pride. Temporary or permanent, each pitch would be activated through partnerships with organisations like Football Beyond Borders, who deliver proven wellbeing and educational outcomes. With coordinated investment and community ownership, these pitches can bring high-impact infrastructure for connection, inclusion, and wellbeing — building a happier, healthier London from the grassroots up.
Best Pitch
London’s Sharing Plate
Betty Owoo, Senior Design Officer – GLA
Activate underutilised public realm through a network of pavilions on the city’s polycentric edges, reimagining food as a tool for cultural engagement, youth development and public life. In outer boroughs where cultural investment is scarce and third spaces are disappearing, this initiative offers safe, free places for young people to gather, learn and create. Drawing on models like Massimo Bottura’s Refettorio and The Decorators’ Ridley Road project, the Nourish Network connects food, care and culture, transforming high streets and markets into ecosystems of belonging through education, hospitality and community.
Find all summary proposals here.
Congratulation to all FLL40 candidates and welcome to our Alumni Network!
- Antonia Whatmore, Design and Conservation Manager at Hillingdon Council
- Camilla Weston, Solicitor at Devonshires
- Carla Walters, Housing New Supply Coordinator at Royal Greenwich Council
- Daniel Lynch, Accents Project manager at Poplar Harca
- Eiman Rostami, Planning Enforcement Manager at Lewisham Council
- Federica Suriano, Project Manager at Pocket Living
- Izzy Theodoreson, Senior Business Consultant at The 4OC Ltd
- Jesenka Oezdalga, Senior Planning Officer at Hammersmith and Fulham Council
- Kerry Edwards, Principal Urban Designer at OPDC
- Luke Kon, Development Manager at GLA Housing & Land
- Martin Lomas, Strategic Developments Team Leader at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
- Michael Carless, Deputy Team Leader Planning Policy at Islington Council
- Mongezi Ndlela, Area Planning Manager at Harrow Council
- Nadine Elomri, Associate Director at LCA
- Peter Target, Community Hub Lead at Redbridge Council
- Robert Favell, Deputy Planning Manager (Enforcement) at Barnet Council
- Tanushree Agarwal, Senior Consultant at Inner Circle Consulting
Special thank you to our FLL40 mentors for giving their time and support
- Adam Towle, Head of New Business, Housing Development at Ealing Council
- Allison Sofekun, Deputy CEO/Director of Finance & Resources at EHA Ltd
- Clare Chettle, SPM Regeneration New Build at Haringey Council
- Elaine Taylor, Director of Development (Cambridge Road Estate) at Royal Borough of Kingston
- Emma Gittus, Project Director at Turner & Townsend
- Graham Clements, Team Leader (Development) at GLA
- Hannah Langford, Partner at Devonshires
- Harriet Shone, Senior Director at Cratus Group
- Hilary Satchwell, Director at Tibbalds
- Karen Swift, Director of Housing Strategy, Policy and Regulatory Assurance at Tower Hamlets Council
- Lucy Webb, Managing Consultant at Inner Circle Consulting
- Matin Miah, Assistant Director (Regeneration & Economic Development) at Hackney Council
- Mike Harris, Director at Greengage
- Neil Parlett, Director (Planning Development and Regeneration) at Lambert Smith Hampton
- Oliver Deed, Managing Director at E.C.F
- Pippa Hack, Director of Place & Growth at Royal Greenwich Council
- Tom Cardis, Director of Planning (Interim) at OPDC
Find out more about the Future London Leaders programme. Thanks to Urbancanda for delivering first-class leadership modules and to programme supporters SEC Newgate for hosting the event.
Future London Leaders is sponsored by Devonshires.
