Guest blog: Infrastructure and partnerships can drive London’s growth

Max Farrell is Founder & CEO of the LDN Collective, a network of built environment experts and creatives fighting to improve people’s lives and the planet’s prospects. Members are experts in social impact, zero carbon and modern methods of construction as well as architecture, engineering, graphic design and film-making.

We sat down with Max to explore how improving infrastructure and working in partnership can help drive London’s growth.

London is one of the world’s truly global cities. As a result, the Capital’s growth is in the interest of the whole if the UK as part of a dynamic ecosystem, including all our regions and nations.

London has huge amounts to offer. Incredible green infrastructure, exciting opportunities – set out in the Opportunity London Prospectus – whilst still a low-density city with huge capacity to grow.

Nevertheless, there are pockets of deprivation across the city and huge pressure on housing – particularly affordable housing. Regeneration, which can deliver genuine social and environmental benefit to communities, must be a priority.

LDN Collective is a different type of business model for collaboration in the built environment. We bring together around 50 multi-disciplinary members in a way which enables smaller businesses – with the right skills and expertise – to do bigger things.

We only support projects which can deliver social and environmental impact in a way which enhances, and invests, in communities.

It’s why our collaboration with Muse is so exciting – the Muse team knows how to work in partnership with the public sector to deliver genuine value. Across London, the team is delivering affordable homes, green spaces, civic and commercial spaces which lift communities – but it’s hard.

Market conditions are as tough today as they have ever been. Inflation, higher interest rates, and macroeconomic conditions – coming on the back of a global pandemic – make delivery very challenging. It takes deep reserves of creativity, resilience, commitment, and partnership to make things happen.

The public sector has a key role to play if we are to continue to unlock new opportunities across London. Infrastructure is critical and it’s right the Government has recognised the need to invest to enable growth.

In London the biggest opportunity is to the East. New river bridges, connecting East London, could unlock significant opportunities for regeneration by radically boosting connectivity. East London is generally lower density, with significant scope to deliver the new homes and places the city needs but requires investment in connectivity to make it happen.

Muse, working in partnership with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and local authorities, is already delivering across East London.

In Rathbone Market, Canning Town, ECF – the partnership between Muse, Legal & General, and Homes England, has worked with partners to deliver 650 homes, a vibrant new library, community centre, events space and two public parks. ECF is also delivering 804 homes (50% affordable) at Manor Road Quarter.

Muse is also delivering 274 new homes at Stroudley Walk, in partnership with Poplar Harca and the GLA, in Bromley-by-Bow.

Partnerships and collaboration are what underpins Muse’s approach, working together with the public sector.

It’s a highly successful model, which could drive greater opportunity across the city. The Mayor of London and the 32 London Boroughs must work more closely together, and plan more strategically over the long-term, if we are to unlock the true value of partnership working.

London is in competition with other global cities. If it is to remain the best city in the world we must deliver the homes, commerce, and public spaces London needs to thrive. By investing in partnerships and infrastructure we can deliver it and capture the social and environmental benefits that follow.