Opinion

Get updates from The Developer straight to your inbox Yes, please!

Engagement: We must listen to communities – and recognise participation as labour

Where early listening has been embedded, the benefits can be striking. Compensating people for their time broadens participation and signals that lived experience is being taken seriously, writes Anne Wynne

Children must be at the heart of ‘good growth’

They may not be in the corridors of power, but children still deserve a seat at the table. We must advocate for them, Emma Bearman writes

Design for neurodiversity: “This is not a niche concern”

The future city is not smart, it is emotionally intelligent, offering transitional spaces, refuge and sensory choice, writes Christopher Martin

Our access to green spaces has gone seriously wrong

UNICEF warns, in too many communities children’s access to free, unstructured play is shrinking and, in Britain, we are living that warning in real time, writes Helen Griffiths

Net-zero housing is a place problem, not just a carbon problem

Carbon is central, but it is not the whole story. Homes must also be comfortable, maintainable, resilient and connected to everyday life, writes Harshul Singhal

The new carbon: The case for affordability reporting

Developers need to start prioritising housing affordability – and start by incorporating affordability into portfolio reporting, writes Giulio Ferrini, Head of Built Environment, Institute for Human Rights and Business

The missing link between land use and health

As we await the final NPPF, the wave of strategic frameworks and local plans is an opportunity to put neighbourhood health into place. We should reframe land use policy, not as a constraint, but as a proactive tool to reduce inequalities and improve wellbeing, write Michael Chang and Sophie Hockin

Opinion

NPPF: Why building homes near rail stations isn’t always a quick win

Just being close to a train station isn’t the only, or even the best, way to measure whether somewhere is well-connected or a good place to live, writes Aggie Morris, Planning Officer, Walk Wheel Cycle Trust

What I learned at UKReiif? A great building is no longer enough

Now that more schemes are purpose-built for rental – from transient co-living residents to longer-term family lets – how should design respond? Harriet Saddington reports

Labour needs to move faster to improve high streets

The high street is not just a place to shop, it’s the identity of a place, the branding of a neighbourhood, a reflection of our state of mind – and lately, a complete embarrassment, writes Christine Murray

2026 Built World Cup Champions crowned

Twenty-four teams battled it out over 84 football matches to raise more than £11,000 for charity

Going circular: Why London is building the largest material reuse hub in Europe

Tipping Point East in Newham aims to radically transform construction waste and supercharge reuse. Hani Salih meets the people dismantling the system and building a circular economy, one step at a time

Martyn’s Law means we now have a duty to protect people from terrorism

Good design will mean reducing terrorist threats while keeping places inclusive and welcoming, writes Richard Hilson

Search the Place Database for key information on UK places undergoing development

Vestre seeks proactive sales support with new job opportunity Sponsored by Vestre

MediaCity UK: Finding it’s purpose through public realm Sponsored by Vestre

Roker and Seaburn: Breathing new life into Sunderland's stunning coastal landmarks Sponsored by Vestre

placetests

Placetest: Brighton’s high streets

What is it like to live here – to be part of its history and its future? Anthropologist Dr Muriel ...

Placetest: Park Hill, Sheffield

What is it like to live here – to be part of its history and its future? Anthropologist Dr Muriel ...

Placetest: Folkestone

Investment in the arts, town and Harbour Arm has spearheaded the regeneration of this coastal town ...

Placetest: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Anthropologist Caroline Bennett speaks to locals with photography by John Sturrock

Placetest: New Poundbury

Its Royal patron makes Poundbury the focus of much attention, and the development is not even ...

Placetest: Nine Elms

What is the experience of this nascent place and its people? Anthropologist Caroline Bennett visits ...

Placetest: Liverpool One

In this exclusive placetest, anthropologist Rebecca Toop explores the user experience of ...

Placetest: King's Crescent Estate

Placetest King’s Crescent Estate: A part-demolished estate in Stoke Newington is enjoying an ...

Placetest: MediaCityUK

Placetest MediaCityUK: What is it like to live and work in Peel’s MediaCityUK and has it brought ...

Placetest: King’s Cross

Placetest King’s Cross: How does it work, who is there – and who isn’t? How does the masterplan ...

most popular

Government scraps public consultation on data centres and major infrastructure projects

Scrapping mandatory pre-application consultation requirements for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects will “disenfranchise” locals and “embed resentment”, experts say. Christine Murray reports

Burnham to overhaul procurement in favour of social value

First policy speech hints at national adoption of the Preston Model of community wealth building, Christine Murray reports

Andy Burnham pledges biggest council housing building programme since post-war period

In first major policy speech, potential PM Andy Burnham has promised Number 10 North, a new extension of the prime minister’s office based in Manchester, would deliver a Finnish-style "Housing First" programme and "the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen" writes Hillary Boye Doku

Support us

Sign up to our newsletter

Get updates from The Developer straight to your inbox

Thanks to our organisation members

Become a member

Engagement: We must listen to communities – and recognise participation as labour

Children must be at the heart of ‘good growth’

Design for neurodiversity: “This is not a niche concern”

Our access to green spaces has gone seriously wrong

Net-zero housing is a place problem, not just a carbon problem

The new carbon: The case for affordability reporting

The missing link between land use and health

Opinion

NPPF: Why building homes near rail stations isn’t always a quick win

What I learned at UKReiif? A great building is no longer enough

Labour needs to move faster to improve high streets

2026 Built World Cup Champions crowned

Going circular: Why London is building the largest material reuse hub in Europe

Martyn’s Law means we now have a duty to protect people from terrorism

Search the Place Database for key information on UK places undergoing development

sponsored features

Vestre seeks proactive sales support with new job opportunity Sponsored by Vestre

MediaCity UK: Finding it’s purpose through public realm Sponsored by Vestre

Roker and Seaburn: Breathing new life into Sunderland's stunning coastal landmarks Sponsored by Vestre

placetests

Placetest: Brighton’s high streets

Placetest: Park Hill, Sheffield

Placetest: Folkestone

Placetest: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Placetest: New Poundbury

Placetest: Nine Elms

Placetest: Liverpool One

Placetest: King's Crescent Estate

Placetest: MediaCityUK

Placetest: King’s Cross

most popular

Government scraps public consultation on data centres and major infrastructure projects

Burnham to overhaul procurement in favour of social value

Andy Burnham pledges biggest council housing building programme since post-war period

BIDs have invested over £1 billion into high streets. Is this private money for public good or an undemocratic overstep?

Design for neurodiversity: “This is not a niche concern”

Will Andy Burnham save the high street?

Sign up to our newsletter