The Critical Importance of Early Stages in Public-Private Partnerships for Urban Regeneration. By John Long, Director, igloo Regeneration
In the current landscape of urban regeneration in the UK, it is evident that numerous flourishing communities and city spaces owe their success to robust public-private partnerships. These partnerships are grounded in key principles such as cross-sector collaboration for knowledge sharing, pooling of resources, and alignment of goals.
But one of the most crucial stages of these collaborative strategies comes at the very beginning – before plans are drawn up and budgets are allocated. This step involves going to ground early, and first listening to the communities that are about to be impacted by change. What do they need from their spaces? What can we learn from them? It’s these early insights and first-hand resident experiences that could prove to be the key ingredients to some of the most successful collaborative regeneration projects.
Shifting mindsets and strengthening commitments
We know that today’s development projects are about so much more than just constructing buildings. They’re also about creating sustainable places that foster vibrant economies and communities where real people can live full and flourishing lives. All of this change reflects a broader societal shift towards Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, where the success of development projects is no longer measured just by their financial returns, but by their positive impact on society and the environment.
Over recent years, many facets of the real estate sector have been strengthening their commitment to creating communities set up for long-term success, resulting in a welcome shift of focus from outputs to outcomes. So, instead of being motivated by the volume of office units or houses erected, private and public sector decision makers are coming together to take a bird’s eye view of the bigger picture, with a more strategic focus on how social value can be engineered into projects that will result in more far-reaching successes further down the line.
Cities that bypass early community engagement risk alienating the very people they aim to serve, leading to projects that may not only fail to meet the community’s needs and wants but can also result in costly revisions, delays, and a lack of public support. This neglect can erode trust between residents and decision makers, stifling future collaboration and undermining the overall success of urban regeneration efforts. The consequence can be many missed opportunities where the potential for vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable communities remains unrealised, highlighting the critical importance of incorporating community feedback from the outset to ensure developments truly benefit those they are designed for.
Vital early-stage private sector involvement
Before the wheels of collaborative progress can be set in motion, it’s often down to local authorities to set the stage for successful and inclusive urban development. This was certainly the case for Winchester City Council’s approach to the Central Winchester Regeneration Project. This project saw the Jigsaw by Partnerships & Places consortium – comprised of igloo Regeneration, Thriving Investments and Genr8 Kajima – come together as partners with different funding models and skillsets to deliver a truly mixed-use, mixed tenure thriving neighbourhood. Public sector partners identified the challenges, private sector partners will find and deliver solutions reflective of the community’s needs and aspirations.
Another example of early collaborative success is the Oakfield project, developed by igloo Regeneration, in partnership with Nationwide Building Society, on a brownfield site in the building society’s hometown of Swindon, delivering a total of 239 low-energy homes. This development transformed a previously underused site into a vibrant residential community. By engaging with the community early in the development process, the project aligned with the actual needs and aspirations of the residents, setting a precedent for sustainable community-focused urban development. Both igloo and Nationwide Building Society have worked closely with community stakeholders on the project to ensure it has the backing of local people. As part of this, an extensive period of community consultation was undertaken to ensure local residents were able to feed into the scheme from an early stage. Working with local communities and Swindon Borough Council, Nationwide wanted to demonstrate a mutual approach to housebuilding, creating sustainable, well-designed homes and public spaces, within a thriving community.
An open dialogue
The future of our towns and cities across the UK depends not only on the physical spaces we create, but also on the foundational conversations and partnerships established from the start. It is crucial that these discussions transcend mere formalities and sit at the core of our efforts to craft spaces that truly resonate with the people.
At this juncture of possibility and practicality, the way forward is clear: We must embrace early and open dialogues between the public sector and developers at every project’s inception. By taking this approach, developers can devise regeneration projects that are not only financially viable but deeply embedded with social value, ensuring our urban environments are built collaboratively, inclusively, and sustainably.
