London’s Great Estates have shaped the city for centuries, curating neighbourhoods that balance architectural heritage, commercial vitality, high‑quality public realm and community wellbeing. Their long‑term custodianship model – rooted in generational stewardship – has enabled these places to retain character while continually adapting to change. 

NLA’s Great Estates network brings together Great Estates – old and new – to discuss how vision, governance, design quality, culture and commercial strategy combine to create places that endure. 

Hosted by the Earls Court Development Company, this first roundtable explored how Estates embed long-termism from day one. 

Representatives included: 

This mix of perspectives generated valuable insights into governance, community engagement and adaptation across different development models. 

A central theme throughout the discussion was the importance of establishing a strong place-based ethos from the outset. It was highlighted that organisational values, governance structures, and measures of success should be defined early in the development process, while remaining sufficiently flexible to evolve as projects mature. The discussion highlighted that successful long-term stewardship depends on creating a clear sense of purpose from the beginning, supported by governance arrangements that can adapt to changing circumstances. Equally important was the need to establish the right partnerships from the outset, ensuring that organisations with complementary expertise, shared values, and aligned objectives work collaboratively to support successful delivery and long-term stewardship. 

Meaningful community engagement was also identified as a critical component of long-term success. Speakers stressed that involving local communities should go beyond fulfilling planning requirements and instead become a fundamental part of shaping places. Examples shared included community panels, youth networks, accessibility forums and local partnership models designed to give residents and businesses a genuine voice in decision-making. It was noted that the Earls Court Development Company has spent several years rebuilding trust through extensive engagement, establishing governance structures bringing together local communities, borough representatives, and underrepresented groups to help shape the project's direction. 

The conversation also explored how governance models are evolving in response to increasingly complex urban environments. Participants discussed the growing influence of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), collaborative partnerships between public and private stakeholders, and the ongoing challenge of balancing commercial viability with long-term stewardship objectives. The discussion highlighted how BIDs in cities such as New York often operate with broader powers and greater responsibility than their UK counterparts, prompting consideration of whether governance models in London and the wider UK may evolve in a similar direction. There was broad agreement that effective governance requires a consistent vision, clear priorities and the ability to navigate changing political and economic conditions while maintaining long-term goals. Planning frameworks were seen as particularly important in providing certainty for investment, although speakers emphasised that they must remain sufficiently flexible to respond to future social, environmental and economic change. 

Looking ahead, participants highlighted the need to design buildings and public spaces that can adapt and evolve over time. Discussions focused on retrofit, material selection, climate resilience and creating environments capable of supporting changing uses across generations. Several speakers advocated for simple and durable construction methods, flexible building forms and investment in public realm improvements that can accommodate future needs. Contributors also emphasised the potential benefits of revisiting more traditional building techniques and passive design principles, such as greater use of natural ventilation, thermal mass and locally appropriate materials, which have historically performed well in regulating internal temperatures and reducing energy demand. While participants acknowledged that some of these approaches can be difficult to implement within current regulatory and delivery frameworks, there was a strong view that they offer valuable lessons for creating more resilient, sustainable and adaptable buildings. 

Across historic estates, large-scale regeneration projects and commercial districts alike, the consensus was clear: long-term success depends on creating adaptable places centred on human needs, supported by strong governance, continuous community engagement and a commitment to learning, evolving and stewarding places over time. Building on these themes, the next roundtables will explore what stewardship looks like once a place is fully established, focusing on how successful destinations can be curated, refreshed and kept relevant 10 to 15 years into their lifecycle. These discussions will consider the practical challenges of balancing short-term pressures with long-term objectives, ensuring places continue to evolve while remaining resilient, vibrant and responsive to changing social, economic and environmental needs.