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On 19 May, Future of London visited LB Waltham Forest and heard first-hand how the council is navigating some of the biggest challenges faced by the housing sector. Here we share a summary of what we found out during our two site visits and what the key lessons for the sector are.
Check out this summary of Leader Plus 9’s fascinating tour of what’s happening at Royal Albert Wharf, where tenure-blind housing, waterfront living and meaningful arts integration with residents are forming a vibrant new community.
The government’s long-awaited Levelling Up White Paper is a commitment to tackle geographical inequities and spread opportunity more equally across the UK. But what does this mean for London?
Reflecting on the past two years, it’s clear we need holistic, integrated solutions that put people at the heart of our thinking about the built environment. Through their Building Communities strategy, Countryside are taking a whole systems approach to improving the way they work with communities, to maximise social value in their projects and build sustainable, thriving places.
In this Building recovery case study, we take a look at the award-winning Deptford Lounge transformation from Pollard Thomas Edwards and how this innovative approach to co-location is relevant in Covid-19 recovery as we seek to address widening inequalities within reduced budgets.
Want to see recovery in action? Check out Stockport. On a recent visit, we saw loads of support initiatives from repurposed retail to new public space to a pioneering town centre Mayoral Development Corp. The council is working on perception, but there’s real change behind it.
Co-design with residents in Barking’s Gascoigne neighbourhood has produced a great shared-use space with life beyond its temporary home. Be First planner and Leaders Plus alumna Emma Thorpe shares how they did it.
How much of central Manchester do you attempt with just over two hours and a very knowledgeable group? All of it, of course! We didn’t get everywhere but certainly gave it a shot with this fascinating GM Leaders Plus field trip.
We are drowning in debate over how we should meet for work, if and when people come in at all. Field trips are a great way to surface, and to share learning and power between stakeholders.
First field trip out of lockdown? Had to be King’s Cross! Leaders Plus 8 met there in person for the first time, and got a reminder of all that’s gone into this regeneration exemplar.
Since the start of the pandemic people of all ages now spend more time outdoors – and the public realm has taken on a new significance in community life. As we look towards a post-pandemic future, this case study explores Thamesmead, the lessons we can learn from how communities have used outside spaces during lockdown and how landscape-led placemaking prioritises and strengthens community.
Community hubs are an important element of social infrastructure, but, as physical meeting spaces, they have experienced huge challenges during the pandemic. Using Acton Gardens Community Centre as a case study, we reflect on the role of community hubs in typical times’, and ask how they can continue to support communities as we navigate the ‘new normal’.