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Designing for legacy: “Place is not something that's delivered at completion, it's already there”

Experts say collaboration and being proactive in your design key to the longevity of a place

Building archaeology: “When used well, it can actively contribute to better places and better placemaking"

Speakers at Festival of Place Bytesize say the benefits of historic fabric are often overlooked; challenging sites can deliver positive social and environmental impact

“Don’t treat soils like dirt” say experts highlighting waste on construction sites

In one teaspoon of soil, there are more living organisms than people on the planet and yet we dispose of it like rubbish, reports Kimberley France

A brand-new seafront for less than a footballer’s wages

It’s not an easy task to stretch the flood defence grants but with an integrated team, you can get creative and maximise the benefits of the results, writes Kimberley France

Rain gardens: “It's not just an engineering solution. It's also landscape. It’s biodiversity”

If the street is going to be dug up, then you should get as many positives out of the disruption as you can, writes Kimberley France

Passivhaus social housing: “They don't have to choose between heating and eating”

The health and economic benefits of Passivhaus make it worth the increase in quality control and investment, experts say, while cost of building the standard has decreased significantly, writes Kimberley France

“It’s about feeling really good.” How social impact is being measured at Brent Cross Town

Brent Cross Town is using the Flourishing Index to demonstrate the cause and effect of placemaking on public health. Dr Jamie Anderson, Buro Happold’s urban wellbeing lead, explains the metrics and methodology

Opinion

Engagement: We must listen to communities – and recognise participation as labour

Where early listening has been embedded, the benefits can be striking. Compensating people for their time broadens participation and signals that lived experience is being taken seriously, writes Anne Wynne

Children must be at the heart of ‘good growth’

They may not be in the corridors of power, but children still deserve a seat at the table. We must advocate for them, Emma Bearman writes

Our access to green spaces has gone seriously wrong

UNICEF warns, in too many communities children’s access to free, unstructured play is shrinking and, in Britain, we are living that warning in real time, writes Helen Griffiths

Net-zero housing is a place problem, not just a carbon problem

Carbon is central, but it is not the whole story. Homes must also be comfortable, maintainable, resilient and connected to everyday life, writes Harshul Singhal

The new carbon: The case for affordability reporting

Developers need to start prioritising housing affordability – and start by incorporating affordability into portfolio reporting, writes Giulio Ferrini, Head of Built Environment, Institute for Human Rights and Business

The missing link between land use and health

As we await the final NPPF, the wave of strategic frameworks and local plans is an opportunity to put neighbourhood health into place. We should reframe land use policy, not as a constraint, but as a proactive tool to reduce inequalities and improve wellbeing, write Michael Chang and Sophie Hockin

Search the Place Database for key information on UK places undergoing development

Vestre seeks proactive sales support with new job opportunity Sponsored by Vestre

MediaCity UK: Finding it’s purpose through public realm Sponsored by Vestre

Roker and Seaburn: Breathing new life into Sunderland's stunning coastal landmarks Sponsored by Vestre

placetests

Placetest: Brighton’s high streets

What is it like to live here – to be part of its history and its future? Anthropologist Dr Muriel ...

Placetest: Park Hill, Sheffield

What is it like to live here – to be part of its history and its future? Anthropologist Dr Muriel ...

Placetest: Folkestone

Investment in the arts, town and Harbour Arm has spearheaded the regeneration of this coastal town ...

Placetest: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Anthropologist Caroline Bennett speaks to locals with photography by John Sturrock

Placetest: New Poundbury

Its Royal patron makes Poundbury the focus of much attention, and the development is not even ...

Placetest: Nine Elms

What is the experience of this nascent place and its people? Anthropologist Caroline Bennett visits ...

Placetest: Liverpool One

In this exclusive placetest, anthropologist Rebecca Toop explores the user experience of ...

Placetest: King's Crescent Estate

Placetest King’s Crescent Estate: A part-demolished estate in Stoke Newington is enjoying an ...

Placetest: MediaCityUK

Placetest MediaCityUK: What is it like to live and work in Peel’s MediaCityUK and has it brought ...

Placetest: King’s Cross

Placetest King’s Cross: How does it work, who is there – and who isn’t? How does the masterplan ...

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