Research

This paper examines the structural, spatial, and sociocultural factors shaping walkability through an in-depth analysis of five residential case studies. It draws on spatial analysis and assessment of resident behaviour using sociodemographic data. Findings indicate significant disparities in walkability outcomes, with some developments characterised by fragmented layouts, weak public transport integration, and environments that make walking impractical or undesirable.

In a harmonious system, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, and in a town that means they contain all the functional elements needed for people to carry out their lives but are assembled to create public space which unites citizens as social beings. Towns and cities are therefore central to democracy where our collective life as citizens is better and more fulfilling than each individual life in isolation.

This report offers case studies and a decision-making framework to help landowners navigate these choices, weighing short-term financial gain against the long-term benefits of well-planned development. Focusing on urban development in the UK, it serves as a guide for landowners making strategic decisions about their land.

The ‘Place Building – Developing Homes & Communities’ report advocates a shift from short-term housing targets to long-term placemaking, highlighting that, by aligning policy incentives with on-the-ground innovation and community insight, the built environment sector can transition from fragmented, short-term housing delivery towards a true place-building approach, leaving a legacy of lasting communities across the UK.

The English housing development sector is frequently described as being in a state of crisis, presenting challenges for a range of stakeholders. The research is tensioned against structural shifts in the housing development sector, with an agglomeration of a handful of large housing developers shaping the narrative, set against the decline of regional SMEs developers.

The English housing development sector is often described as being in crisis, facing complex challenges – for and from – multiple stakeholders. A key issue is sustainability and its connection to building healthy communities. This research examines structural shifts over the past 40 years, including the decline of regional SMEs and the dominance of a few large developers, which has shaped current housing discourse.

In this report, George Ferguson CBE, the first elected Mayor of Bristol and Past President of the Royal Institute of British Architects, asks questions about the importance of community and how we need to build in order to create them.

As recently as 15 years ago there was very little research into the benefits of nature on human health and wellbeing but recently there has been an overwhelming amount of research confirming what we intuitively feel, which is that access to water, plants, trees and animals is good for our physical and mental health.

Our 2022 report, Building Towards Net Zero Carbon Homes, highlights the urgent need for a coordinated, industry-wide effort to create more sustainable housing and communities.

‘We are designed for walking’… evidence shows that creating walkable, mixed-use neighbourhoods, that make us feel valued and safe, can improve our mental and physical health.

How “walkable” is your neighbourhood? Can residents walk to work, their children’s school, and to the nearest shops and amenities? What does that mean for their quality of life and the time they spend in the car or exercising in the outdoors?

A 64-page publication which features a range of specially-commissioned articles articulated by a range of industry pioneers and thought-leaders addressing issues around housing in the UK.

A joint report with the University College of Estate Management which reveals a direct link between housing type and social benefits.

With a housing affordability crisis in the UK and pressure to build up to 300,000 homes a year, there is a real risk that the built legacy of this generation will be a country littered with soulless housing estates.