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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

“How do we prove this is the right thing to do?” Making Impact in Wilton Park, Dublin

IPUT Real Estate Dublin shares their methodology for long-term social impact research project Making Impact to evaluate the social, cultural, economic, and environmental value of their investment in Wilton Park, Dublin

Opinion

Martyn’s Law means we now have a duty to protect people from terrorism

Good design will mean reducing terrorist threats while keeping places inclusive and welcoming, writes Richard Hilson

Councils need to prepare for objection letters from neighbours that don’t exist

We urgently need to reform our democratic systems to keep up with AI generated waffle and fakery, writes Christine Murray

Planning for life, not for movement

It’s not that we are bad at planning transport, it’s that we have been planning for the wrong thing, writes Christopher Martin

On this much we agree: A shared definition of good placemaking is emerging in policy – it won't be enough

Between the NPPF and the Built Environment Committee, we are edging closer to an agreed definition of a well-designed place and the kind of society we want to live in, writes Christine Murray

Shifting the dial for small sites

Despite policy support in principle, small site applications are still subject to lengthy and often unpredictable determination periods, writes Ned Scott

The community came together to stop flooding – and failed: “There is only one winner from all of this”

After an extreme flooding event in 2021, my neighbours worked together to develop a sustainable drainage project. With one planning application rejected, the other withdrawn, what happens now? writes Dr Elizabeth Rapoport

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

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

Is my project resilient for the future?Sponsored by Hawkins\Brown

Caregivers and young children rarely consulted in community engagement despite representing a third of the population Sponsored by Van Leer Foundation

placetests

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 ...

most popular

Winners for the Pineapples awards for place 2026 announced

See all the winners and read the judges citations after a glittering presentation at Trinity Buoy Wharf on 22 April 2026

How the new NPPF puts design back at the heart of planning

What you need to know about the draft NPPF and Planning Practice Guidance before the government consultation ends on 10 March by Hilary Satchwell

NSPCC calls for walkable, low-traffic and car-free streets to safeguard children

Leading charity releases toolkit and calls on built environment to enshrine child safeguarding into the property development cycle

Size matters: Larger parks, longer visits and wildlife spotting improve mental health boost from urban green spaces, study reveals

What you do in the park matters too: Activities such as walking, running, cycling and picknicking can boost wellbeing too, major report reveals

Ruth Glass: Gentrification visionary

Not only was Ruth Glass remarkably ahead of her time in identifying and naming gentrification as a new phenomenon over 60 years ago, her work has continuing relevance in the subsequent social and housing market changes in London and other cities, writes Chris Hamnett

The unintended consequences of School Streets traffic restrictions

Major study shows street closures reduce car use and get children walking, but the spike in those parking and striding from boundary areas suggest careful planning is needed. Christine Murray reports

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