Catriona Fraser, Director at Turley explores three of the six 'Pillars of Placemaking' from the New London Agenda; Think Beyond Boundaries, Leverage Innovation and Work in Partnership.

London is facing a dual challenge of housing need and industrial capacity. This dilemma is not just about the numbers, it’s also about ensuring quality of life for residents, fostering integration and social benefit for the community, driving economic value and growth for London and prioritising sustainable practices. These multifaceted matters often cannot be separated and necessitate interconnected solutions that are actively addressed and engaged with from the outset. Understanding how to achieve this within the nuances of the London housing market and the dynamics of its industrial spaces is challenging. The planning system plays a significant role in successfully integrating these competing demands to ensure innovative, thoughtful and successful solutions, while optimising opportunity.  

Working collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team, including consultants, developers and council teams, enables us to build consensus around innovative solutions, fostering a shared vision. This partnership approach has been particularly beneficial in turning the co-location model from a concept to a reality. The model is innovative for its heralding as a possible partial solution to both the housing crisis in London, as well as the industrial crisis. Turley has closely observed the model with great interest over the last few years, examining its incorporation and evolution through the planning system in various approaches, whether horizontally, vertically, within masterplans or in designated industrial areas.  There is still a debate out there as to whether the model is indeed a viable solution, which has undoubtedly grown as planning permissions have been granted, 

What I think everyone can agree on, is that there both a willingness for it to succeed and a consensus that the model shows promise. Provided we can get the technology and design right, and propose it in appropriate locations with the right (and most needed) industrial uses working alongside much needed homes – under these circumstances – why wouldn’t this be a model that is encouraged?

Turley has had the pleasure of being part of a collaborative team which has worked on one of the most forward-thinking co-location schemes in London, at Uplands Business Park.  The scheme transforms a once run-down, albeit creative and successful, industrial estate into a much needed new community for the area.  The scheme has resolved to increase the amount of industrial space, whilst retaining as many businesses as possible and introducing up to 1,800 new homes. This can only be achieved on a site of scale (in this case, 5ha) through horizontal and vertical co-location, plus an innovative and dynamic applicant and council team (LB Waltham Forest) who want to work in partnership with the private sector. LB Waltham Forest and the GLA worked at length with the applicant team to ensure that this project would work for everyone, that it would be viable, whilst also contributing to making the area genuinely better and more sustainable through innovative solutions.  The scheme will provide a 20% net positive biodiversity gain as well as the intention to recycle 95% of all building waste on site. 

Thinking along different lines, the housing crisis is as much about what we are building from a residential perspective as to what our existing housing stock is being used for.  Family homes are often being used as houses of multiple occupation, especially within London where we have a large student population, and are often not fit for purpose for their needs on a social level.  The same is true for our older population.  

An alternative to traditional residential approaches is the incorporation of multi-generational living, which was at the heart of our project at West End Gate in Westminster. This development is developed upon a commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse community, addressing general housing needs whilst also unlocking new value through creating a place for different age groups to interact, support and live together. The multi-phase masterplan includes private sale homes, social rented and various tenures of intermediate affordable housing, and senior living accommodation for over 65s. Each of these components of housing choice serve varying needs and are set alongside commercial and community uses with extensive public realm and landscaping in the heart of Westminster as part of a wider placemaking vision.

These are the types of schemes that Turley takes pride in putting our energy into – collaborating to understand all the intricacies of a development, so that we can make things ‘work better’ for all who will be impacted, living in or involved with its future. From advising on planning and sustainability to economics and design, our depth of perspective enables us to move past conventional solutions and spot innovative strategies. This ability is often essential to unlocking land in challenging urban areas. 

Taking stock of the opportunities and challenges available, and shaping these into workable solutions is how – at Turley – we are able to navigate the complexities of urban development in the capital. Leveraging our expertise across disciplines and encouraging our partners to work closely together helps innovation thrive. The journey towards delivering better spaces more quickly, effectively and efficiently starts with an improved planning system that is more dynamic and responsive, ready to meet today's diverse development pathways.