But for the housing market, particularly within affordable housing, employment figures will be the crucial variable to regaining customer interest. However, the fundamentals of the market are still there, driving revenue and consumer interest.

There was a mixture of views among the panellists over the viability of mixed-use assets. For Pedley, co-location with a range of assets is the future for residential development. However, Simpson believed that while mixed-tenure models hold some appeal for investors, mixed-use developments could be problematic when it comes to issues of ownership.

Pedley agreed that there are challenges to the mixed-use model. The surprising recent change in use class orders could allow for a whole range of assets on the high streets – but that will involve turning highly constrained sites into flexible developments. Design will have to accommodate any of those uses and scenario planning is the only way to do it.

But the major changes are ultimately going to happen as a result of customer behaviour. As Simpson pointed out, amenities are changing. As well as instead of the pools, gyms and cafés seen in current BTR projects, residents will also be more interested in spaces to work, open spaces, community areas and ensuring their homes are sustainable.

Meanwhile, people have become used to the quiet streets and clean air that lockdown has afforded and, as Perry highlighted, pedestrianised streets are likely to become increasingly common. For Pedley there is an exciting change happening, and so much more will be expected from our public and shared space.

The working from home experiment has forced everyone to use their homes in a completely new and unexpected way, and there will now be a greater expectation for quality from residents. Going forward, buildings will have to be designed to draw out human connections through their different uses.