Preparing for Twelve New Towns in England

As #Auckland grows, so does the need for safer, more accessible transport corridors. We're proud to have been appointed by Auckland Transport as lead designer for the detailed design phase and technical support of the major upgrade of the Point Chevalier to Westmere corridor. Spanning 2.8km, the 'dig once' design features Copenhagen-style cycleways, widened footpaths, and upgraded public transport facilities. It also includes stormwater separation and pavement rehabilitation, with the latter facilitated by Boffa Miskell Limited and Mana Whenua partners. We love seeing the community enjoy a transformed streetscape that supports sustainable transport and fosters a vibrant, connected neighbourhood. Read the full story here: https://mottm.ac/47VEING

"Even as planning policy cautiously opens the door to Green Belt development through the introduction of the Grey Belt, urban regeneration remains an essential tool in meeting the UK’s housing needs. The idea that Green Belt land can now contribute more significantly to housing delivery does not negate the value, or indeed the necessity, of revitalising our cities from within."- Andy Burton, planner at Boyer discusses the importance of green urban spaces. https://lnkd.in/eGPw3rz6

https://lnkd.in/dxR6RJzu City of Natal lifts verticalization freeze after more than 20 years Verticalize to Preserve: Why Taller Cities Can Be Greener, More Efficient, and More Prosperous I’ve said it before and I’ll insist on this point again: a verticalized city can be far more beneficial to the environment than most people imagine. The idea that tall buildings and urban density are enemies of sustainability is a misconception that needs to be overcome. In fact, the opposite is true: by concentrating people and activities in well-planned and well-structured areas, the urban sprawl and its negative impacts on the territory are drastically reduced. When the population is less dispersed, transportation consumes less fuel, travel times are shorter, and pollutant emissions decrease. Public transportation also becomes more viable and efficient, since the concentration of passengers allows for routes with more rational paths and adequate frequency. In a denser city, every kilometer traveled is more useful, and every investment in mobility infrastructure yields greater returns. Moreover, verticalization makes environmental and sanitary control easier. It is much simpler and more efficient to inspect the sewage system of a building with dozens of units than to try to supervise hundreds of scattered houses — many of them built illegally and without a connection to the public network. When buildings are required to comply with strict technical standards, waste treatment and disposal systems become standardized, monitorable, and easy to fix. This reduces public health risks and prevents soil and water contamination. There is also a direct impact on economic development. The construction industry and the real estate market are powerful engines of growth. Each new building creates jobs during construction, drives entire supply chains, and strengthens the local economy. And once completed, these developments continue to generate income and taxes, create services, energize neighborhoods, and increase surrounding property values. In short, verticalizing does not mean destroying the environment — in many cases, it is the smartest way to preserve it. Cities that understood this have managed to grow in a balanced way, combining quality of life, urban efficiency, and sustainable development. Those that still resist “concrete” need to realize that the future does not lie in endlessly spreading houses across the land, but in planning intelligently and building upward. The Freeze Natal’s old Master Plan imposed such strict requirements on vertical buildings that every project faced two options: “better not to build” or “not allowed to build.” In both cases, ideas died at the planning table.

Building New Towns: A Once-in-a-Generation Chance to Design Inclusive, Cohesive Communities The announcement of 12 new towns across England is a rare opportunity. We are not simply talking about bricks and mortar but the chance to shape communities from the ground up. When done well, these are places that will be defined not only by housing numbers but by how people live, connect and thrive together. Too often housing expansion is retrofitted onto strained infrastructure. New towns allow us to reverse that cycle. We can design for cohesion from day one, with schools, health facilities, green spaces and cultural assets built into the masterplan rather than added as an afterthought. This gives communities the foundations for long-term social stability. There is also the chance to rebalance how we move. Walkable neighbourhoods, safe cycling routes and public transport connections should form the backbone of development. If designed around active travel and shared spaces, these towns can reduce car dependency and create healthier, more connected lives. Nature must be integrated, not displaced. Landscape-led masterplanning can weave biodiversity corridors, wetlands and woodlands into the urban fabric. Parks and public squares can sit alongside homes and workplaces, ensuring people are always close to nature. This balance between the built and the natural environment is what will make these towns resilient and liveable. Inclusivity will be the real measure of success. Affordable homes, a mix of tenures, and spaces where different groups meet and interact are vital. Designing with diversity in mind ensures that new towns become communities where people of different backgrounds feel a genuine sense of belonging. The policy ambition is clear. The real test is whether we seize this as more than a housing exercise. If industry, government and local partners align around people, place and nature, then these new towns could set the standard for inclusive, sustainable living for generations.

🏗️ The future of housing isn't just about building more homes—it's about building BETTER homes. Placefirst just completed something remarkable in Bolton: a £35m Build-to-Rent development that's redefining what sustainable living looks like. Here's what makes Deansgate Gardens a game-changer: ✅ 167 sustainable homes with cutting-edge green technology ✅ Rooftop solar panels reducing energy dependency ✅ Advanced heat pumps slashing residents' energy bills ✅ Enhanced insulation maximizing energy efficiency ✅ Mix of one and two-bedroom apartments plus townhouses ✅ Communal spaces fostering community connection But here's the bigger picture: This isn't just a housing project—it's part of Bolton Council's ambitious £1bn town centre regeneration masterplan. They're transforming a Victorian-era commercial site into a thriving modern community. The funding model is equally impressive: Placefirst's investment combined with a £22.6m loan from Greater Manchester Pension Fund shows how public-private partnerships can drive meaningful change. While everyone's talking about the housing crisis, smart developers are already building the solution. They're not just creating places to live—they're creating sustainable communities that reduce costs for residents while protecting the environment. The question isn't whether sustainable housing is the future. It's whether you're positioning yourself to be part of that future. What's your take on sustainable development? Are we moving fast enough to meet housing demand while protecting our planet? #SustainableHousing #BuildToRent #PropertyDevelopment #GreenTechnology #UrbanRegeneration #Bolton

The John Lewis Partnership has been awarded a resolution to grant consent from Reading Borough Council to deliver 170 rental homes on a former industrial site at Mill Lane, which previously housed a distribution centre. The unanimous decision taken last night by the council’s planning committee praised the Partnership’s local engagement around the project and its 70-year commitment to Reading. The £70m scheme will regenerate an underused brownfield site to deliver high-quality, energy-efficient homes, nearly 5,000 sq ft of indoor amenity space for fitness, homeworking and socialising, and landscaped communal gardens. A new community space and access to gardens for local groups will also be provided. The scheme will deliver a biodiversity net gain of 328%, far exceeding the statutory 10% requirement required by policy. Montagu Evans acted as heritage and townscape consultants, helping to navigate extensive pre-application engagement with Reading Borough Council and preparing the Heritage & Townscape Visual Impact Assessment (HTVIA) in support of the full planning application. Our input helped shape the scheme in response to the sensitive heritage and townscape context. Partner, Kate Falconer Hall, said: “JLP’s scheme presents a fantastic opportunity to redevelop this brownfield site. The proposals are a thoughtful response to feedback from stakeholders and the council, balancing density with quality of place in an area of transition between the city centre and the Market Place/London Street conservation area. This marks another milestone in JLP’s BTR strategy, following successes in Ealing and Bromley, and reinforces its commitment to delivering high-quality operational homes that meet local housing needs.” We’re proud to have supported JLP in unlocking this opportunity and grateful to our team – Harriet Suter, Bridget Crossley, Chris Miele and others – as well as Carey Jones Chapman Tolcher (CJCT) and the wider consultant group for their collaborative approach. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eDXwUcVF

Our local streets are the heart of our neighbourhoods, but as our cities densify, they risk becoming hotter, less green, and less liveable. 🏙️➡️🌡️ I've been reviewing an important proposal, "Living Streets," put forward by a collaboration of the Australian Institute of Architects, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, and the Planning Institute of Australia. It presents a powerful vision to reclaim our underutilised residential streets for people and the planet. The core idea? Transform grey, car-dominated streetscapes into green, multi-use spaces that: ✅Reduce urban heat with increased canopy cover. ✅Improve health & wellbeing by prioritising pedestrians and cyclists. ✅Manage stormwater and enhance biodiversity. ✅Build community by creating pocket parks and safer, slower streets. The proposal outlines a clear path from "Light Touch" interventions (like verge planting) to "Transformative" changes (like creating pocket parks), but also identifies key barriers from outdated engineering standards to funding gaps that we need to overcome. This isn't just a nice-to-have. It's a necessary step for climate resilience, public health, and creating more sustainable, liveable cities for everyone. I believe this is a conversation we all need to be a part of. What do you think? Could your street become a "Living Street"? #LivingStreets #UrbanPlanning #SustainableCities #Resilience #ClimateAction #UrbanDesign #LandscapeArchitecture #Community #GreenInfrastructure #Sydney #NSWPlanning

The UK’s history of new towns is rich with lessons. With the New Towns Taskforce report now published, we have a chance to learn, adapt and build better for the future. By setting out a bold agenda, the report recaptures a level of planning and investment not witnessed in UK housing policy for many years. At its heart is a call for a new generation of towns – each delivering at least 10,000 homes – shaped by principles of affordability, sustainability, strong transport connections and long-term stewardship. It highlights the need for strong delivery, upfront investment in infrastructure and community engagement to ensure these places are not just dormitory towns, but thriving, self-sustaining communities. Earlier this year, JTP published our Creating New Towns publication, setting out six key themes to help guide the planning and delivery of sustainable, community-focused places. From our own research, it is clear there is no one-size-fits-all approach, however through good design, engagement and stewardship, we can deliver communities at scale without compromising on the principles that create great places to live. As government begins to shape the next generation of new towns, we invite our peers and collaborators across the built environment to join the conversation and take a closer look at the recommendations in JTP’s Creating New Towns report which can be accessed here – https://lnkd.in/eWdTJuGW #newtownstaskforce #townplanning #architecture #masterplanning #newtowns #design #placemaking #JTP

Garden Town partners, Harlow Council, have completed the demolition and enabling works that will transform the old bus station into a new Sustainable Transport Hub and serve as a gateway for a regenerated #Harlow Town Centre. A flagship project that forms a vital part of Harlow Council’s major transformation of the local area, the new Hub will also connect to the first phase of the Garden Town’s Sustainable Transport Corridor which is nearing completion between the Town Centre and Burnt Mill roundabout. Joining the new Sustainable Transport Hub in the future regenerated Town Centre will be a revamped Market Square, a new Arts & Cultural Quarter across Playhouse Sq/College Sq and an upgraded Broad Walk area. With main construction now underway on Terminus Street, Harlow residents and visitors can look forward to: • A modern Sustainable Transport Hub with covered waiting areas and better passenger facilities. • An 80-space cycle hub to promote active travel and provide secure bike storage. • Redesigned bus stands and improved traffic flow, making it easier for buses to serve passengers and exit onto Crown Gate. • Upgraded lighting and CCTV, ensuring the safety and confidence of those using the town centre. • Greener, brighter public spaces, transforming the first impression for visitors arriving in Harlow. Speaking about the new Sustainable Transport Hub, the Leader of Harlow Council and Chair of the HGGT Joint Committee, Cllr Dan Swords, commented: “We are delivering the most ambitious regeneration programme of any district council in the country – reversing years of decline and finally giving our town centre the future it deserves. “The change is no longer a vision, it’s happening now with work on the new bus station and Terminus Street moving at pace. “This progress is evident for everyone to see and when complete, it truly will transform this area of the town centre acting as an attractive, modern gateway to the new town centre. “But I know our residents want to see this transformation even faster – and they are right. They have waited long enough. "That is why we are cutting through red tape, speeding up decision-making, cutting delays, and accelerating the rebuilding of our town centre. This is about more than bricks and mortar – it’s about restoring pride, opportunity, and belief in the heart of our town. “This change in approach will deliver on one of our central missions to rebuild our town as we Build Harlow’s Future.” New to Harlow & Gilston Garden Town? HGGT is one of the most exciting regeneration and development projects in the country with four new communities alongside a regenerated Harlow Town Centre and a transport network serving active and sustainable travel. Find out more here - hggt.co.uk #transport #travel #cycling #walking #environment #buses #bus #community #newtowns #regeneration #development #construction #realestate

Is shared living the key to affordable housing in dense urban areas? The challenge lies in optimizing existing infrastructure to create cost-effective living spaces. By re-imagining the use of square footage, individuals can access reasonable rents in desirable locations. This approach focuses on innovation to drive down costs for tenants, making housing more accessible. #resilientalpha #AsafFligelman #alphaideas #multifamilyhousing #alternativehousing #churchwickpartners #asafligelman #martysecada #realestate #affordablehousing