The power of public spaces in placemaking

High quality public and green spaces are at the heart of our placemaking strategy

It is one which is driven by a long-term goal of helping to improve the neighbourhoods we work in, enhancing the quality of life for communities, all while preserving and growing the natural environment for future generations to benefit from.

We seek to balance people and the planet, with positive outcomes for both the community, and nature.

Achieving this requires us to make careful and considered design choices. Our 40 years of experience creating mixed-use communities across the UK has given us the knowledge and understanding of what is needed to deliver successful places which prioritise sustainability, community and quality.

The power of public spaces is one meaningful way we have learnt to make it happen.

Manor Road Quarter, Canning Town

This was the case at Manor Road Quarter in Canning Town. A former industrial and commercial area, Canning Town had historically been home to workers for London’s docks. It was characterised by low-density housing and limited green spaces. A community which was diverse and vibrant, but often transient, hard to reach, and difficult to connect.

Through ECF – our partnership with L&G and Homes England – together with the Greater London Authority, the London Borough of Newham, and Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, we’ve created a place which responds to the unique needs of the surrounding community while also creating a new neighbourhood which draws people from elsewhere.

Key to this has been the creation of a vibrant 2.9ha linear park. Replacing an underused car park and commercial sheds, the linear park is bordered by new spaces for businesses and shops. It has created a lively, active, destination. A place for the community to meet, socialise, and spend time. A place for residents to cycle, run, and connect to nature. An asset for years to come.

Hucknall, Nottinghamshire

At Hucknall in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, we’ve created a new neighbourhood working alongside our partner, Rolls Royce. Alongside Ashfield District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, we engaged with local people to understand what Hucknall needed to secure a brighter future for the area.

It became clear that there was a huge opportunity to build on the heritage of an important site and create a place that would positively contribute to the area for years to come.

Alongside new homes and employment space, we’ve created the things a real community needs – a new primary school, local shop, alongside loads of green space and a play park for children and families to enjoy.

Salford Central

In Salford Central our public-private partnership has taken a vast, under-utilised, 50-acre space and united two cities as part of a £1 billion vision.

For more than a decade we’ve been working closely with our partners at ECF and Salford City Council to channel our shared expertise into delivering a brighter future for the city.

It has not been easy. It has required continued determination, outside-of-the-box thinking, and problem solving, to interconnect a community of workspaces, new homes, shops, and restaurants.

To piece the jigsaw together we have enhanced transport routes, improved pedestrian access, and delivered new public and event space at the core of what is now a well-connected and complete destination.

Crescent Salford

Continuing to work with our partners in Salford, Crescent Salford is another place where industry, education and community come together across a 240-acre city district.

To achieve it we’ve placed public spaces at the heart of the masterplan. We are planting 1,000 trees, creating over 2m sq. ft of public space, and introducing an elevated five-acre green walkway at Salford Rise which will connect Crescent Innovation and the University of Salford with surrounding communities.

Partly funded by £13.17 million from the Levelling Up Fund, the quality public spaces and improved openness and accessibility will enable new and established communities to reach the employment and education opportunities we will deliver.

Hale Wharf, Tottenham

Waterside regeneration has equally given us an opportunity to consider how we uniquely incorporate public spaces for the benefit of communities.

At Hale Wharf we’ve created hundreds of new homes, while opening a key stretch of the River Lea as part of the transformation of a forgotten waterside. It has seen us create green walkways as well as floating reed beds that have allowed people to connect to nature while also pushing sustainability.

Our approach to transport led regeneration carries the same drive to unlock the wider potential of place. We believe that these projects aren’t just about simply getting people from one place to another. It’s about creating vibrant, thriving, well-connected hubs where people can live, work, and socialise.

Stockport Exchange

The £145m Stockport Exchange transformation with Stockport Council delivers this with a new gateway to the town for those arriving at Stockport Station.

A key catalyst to the project has been a fully accessible and reshaped, landscaped, approach to the railway station and a new public square. An area which has redefined the experience for visitors and helped put the ‘place’ in placemaking at Stockport Exchange.