Inspiring the next generation of placemakers in Newham

At Muse, regeneration is about more than the places we deliver.

It’s about the people who shape them, the communities that sustain them and the generations who will inherit them.

That’s why this week we spent a morning with a Year 12 class at London Design & Engineering UTC in Newham, designed to open up conversations about urban regeneration, masterplanning and the future of our cities.

The session was hosted by Muse colleagues, urban planners from the Sidara Group and LDN Collective, and two Muse T Level students who are currently studying at LD&E UTC, and attended by a class of 16 and 17 year old students. Together, we created a space to share knowledge, listen carefully and invite fresh perspectives into the regeneration process.

What the workshop covered

The session was led by Chris Scott, Development Director at Muse, who introduced the students to who we are, what we do, and what regeneration really means in practice. He talked through how large-scale regeneration projects come together, from early visioning and masterplanning through to delivery, and our experience of delivering regeneration programmes in Newham such as Manor Road Quarter in Canning Town.

Students were then asked to step into the role of placemakers themselves. They explored what social priorities matter most in the local area, what local communities might want and need, and what they value and would like to see reflected in future places.

Working in groups, the students sketched out their own ideal masterplans and presented their ideas back to the room.

What we learned

For Muse, the session was as much about listening as it was about sharing expertise.

The students’ ideas were thoughtful, grounded, socially driven, and centred on accessible spaces that foster connection. They weren’t trend-led ideals, they were the foundations and fundamentals that support a sense of belonging. Their masterplans included community facilities such as places of worship, a library and community hubs, alongside generous green spaces, cycle paths and new bridges to improve connectivity. They proposed more trees, not just for wellbeing but to help mitigate noise from the nearby City Airport and to help cool the city in summer.

Across every presentation, a clear emphasis on social value and sustainability came through, demonstrating an understanding that regeneration is about creating places that bring people together, meet community needs and last for generations.

For Muse, these insights don’t replace the deep, ongoing engagement we carry out with communities at every stage of a project. Rather, they add another valuable layer of perspective, helping us better understand what young people today value, while recognising that their views are diverse, nuanced, and shaped by lived experience.

Why this matters

This session, and future sessions we hope to hold with the college, address an ongoing challenge: young people are often underrepresented in conversations about the places they live in. Placemakers and developers have a responsibility to actively seek out these perspectives, particularly where disengagement or disillusionment exists. Providing insight into how regeneration works, and how voices can influence it, can help strengthen trust and long-term engagement.

The session also spoke directly to one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: skills retention as much as skills attraction. The students at London Design & Engineering UTC have already chosen a pathwayinto the built environment. Workshops like this are about helping  them stay on that path by deepening their understanding of what regeneration involves, showing the breadth of roles within development and placemaking, and helping them see how their skills, values and ideas can translate into fulfilling careers.

At a time when the industry is facing a skills shortage, it’s vital that we continue to invest in young people who are already engaged, motivated and building the technical foundations needed to shape our future towns and cities.

Chris Scott, Development Director at Muse, said:

“At Muse, we embrace community engagement throughout the entire process. It’s an essential part of how we deliver long-term, sustainable regeneration and ensure that the areas we work in are better for the people who live there. Listening, understanding and responding to the needs and aspirations of communities isn’t optional, it’s central to the success of every neighbourhood, town and city.”

“We loved the time we spent with these amazing young people and learned so much from them. We’re humbled to be able to help them on their pathways to become professionals in the built environment. At a time when skills shortages are affecting our industry, it’s crucial that we support and retain that interest, helping them see the real impact they can have and the range of roles available to them.”

“If we’re going to improve perceptions of developers and strengthen relationships with communities, we must continue to listen, apply what we hear and clearly explain the benefits of regeneration.”

Looking ahead

Muse is proud to be a long-term committed partner in Newham, through our work on regeneration programmes such as in Canning Town. Following feedback from the students at the college, we are in ongoing discussions to host more sessions in the future, building on the ideas generated during the workshop.

For Muse, regeneration doesn’t start and end with buildings, it starts with people, inclusion and long-term dialogue.