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Recap: Zooming in on the "S" in ESG: a road map for social value in real estate'
Recap: ULI webinar ‘Zooming in on the “S” in ESG: a road map for social value in real estate’, by Caitlin Allan, Blackstock Consulting
21st Century New Communities Launch
30 March 2021
ULI kicked off it’s exciting and informative 21st Century New Communities programme with this launch webinar, hosted by ULI on the 2nd March.
The programme runs alongside and expands the conversation of ULI’s brand new and in-depth research report, produced in partnership with urban design and planning practice Prior + Partners. The report identifies the attributes which define successful new communities.
Communities are central to the functioning of a thriving, productive society – and it is vital to understand how successful communities operate so that others can learn from them.
The report, “21st Century New Communities: Raising the ambition”, produced by ULI, sets out the principles and foundations for successful large scale development – and the critical role it will have as part of the solution to the UK’s housing crisis.
The Office for National Statistics predicts that the number of households in England will increase to around 28 million by 2039, requiring an average of more than 200,000 new homes to be built per year.
“Creating a new set of principles and foundations for success, which include long-term business models, leadership, and engagement, will facilitate future success for new communities.”
To meet this need, along with addressing existing shortfalls, the UK Government’s stated aim is to supply 300,000 new homes per annum by the mid-2020s, and one million new homes by the end of the current parliament. As a part of this drive, the government has provided funding through its Garden Communities Programme for almost 50 large scale new developments.
Creating a new set of principles and foundations for success, which include long-term business models, leadership, and engagement, will facilitate future success for new communities.
Establishing a framework for successful new community development fit for the 21st Century, ULI’s launch webinar was the first in a series of events, site visits, and study tours which aim to move the conversation forward to further explore how the principles and foundations for success that have been identified can be delivered as standard.
Missed the launch? Watch the full webinar on the ULI Knowledge Finder
Over the next year ULI will bring together individuals and organisations across the real estate and built environment industries and the public sector. By working collaboratively, ULI hopes a new paradigm for large-scale development to unite and inspire all those involved in the delivery of new towns, villages, and urban extensions will be developed.
This exciting and thought provoking webinar featured Paula Hirst, director at Prior+Partners, and Richard Meier, co-founder of Stories and moderator of the event, who are both also members of the ULI executive committee. Jason Prior, also of Prior+Partners and a key member of ULI, contributed to our exciting launch event alongside Paula and Richard.
Paula and Jason introduced us to and described the motivations behind the report – explaining how crucial it is to recognise that large scale community developments can address the housing crisis and create amazing new places for people to live.
Both explained the conclusions of the report, and introduced the audience to potential barriers to achieving the best outcomes, such as government funding. They offered stellar thought-leadership on how the industry can raise the ambition for the delivery of new communities in this century.
Jason also highlighted some of the critical issues of the 21st century that new community developments need to consider, such as changing demographics, net-zero targets, and working from home. This will allow these communities to thrive as we move towards a post-pandemic landscape and beyond.
After a productive and fascinating discussion, Richard later instigated a panel discussion which looked into various public and private sector responses to the report.
Richard Cook, Group Director of Development at Clarion Housing Group, welcomed the findings that state that new communities need to be built in more sustainable areas near good infrastructure and transport links.
Read the full report here
He also highlighted his own views that the greatest need in these communities is for affordable housing and long-term stewardship – something that the ULI report stresses.
Sophie White, Director of Infrastructure Grants at Homes England, shared her insight into how we might consider new ways of delivering communities, and how to get the markets engaged in thinking more long-term with regard to commitment to design and quality.
Heather Topel, Director of Development – Head of Bermondsey at Grosvenor Group, emphasised that having a singular long-term vision is integral to achieving top quality new communities – and that also has to capture the imagination of stakeholders.
James Jamieson, LGS chairman at Central Bedfordshire Council, argued that in order to achieve great communities more devolution from local government is necessary. Echoing Richard’s view on the importance of where communities are situated, James believes key communities should be built within close proximity to large sites of employment.
“21st Century New Communities” recognises the long-term role that large scale development, such as new towns and garden cities, will play in addressing the UK’s chronic housing shortage and how they will provide unique opportunities to explore and demonstrate new models of creating thriving, sustainable communities.
Our programme will continue to re-invigorate the housing debate and encourage action which will engender lasting and positive change to the way in which large scale new development is approached in the UK.
Look out for future webinars and events which will push our conversation around 21st Century New Communities even further.