Placetest

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Placetest: Brighton’s high streets

What is it like to live here – to be part of its history and its future? Anthropologist Dr Muriel Lamarque and writer Laura Mark speak to locals with exclusive photography by John Sturrock

Placetest: Park Hill, Sheffield

What is it like to live here – to be part of its history and its future? Anthropologist Dr Muriel Lamarque and writer Laura Mark speak to locals with exclusive photography by John Sturrock

Placetest: Folkestone

Investment in the arts, town and Harbour Arm has spearheaded the regeneration of this coastal town which was once a thriving ferry port. Caroline Bennett speaks to locals with exclusive photography by John Sturrock

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 finished yet. Anthropologist Caroline Bennett visits and speaks to locals with exclusive photography by John Sturrock

Placetest: Nine Elms

What is the experience of this nascent place and its people? Anthropologist Caroline Bennett visits Nine Elms and speaks to locals and residents with photography by John Sturrock

Placetest: Liverpool One

In this exclusive placetest, anthropologist Rebecca Toop explores the user experience of Liverpool’s outdoor shopping district, which opened in 2008, with photography by Andrew McCaren

Opinion

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

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

Swanage Town Council seek developer for coastal regeneration

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

MediaCity UK: Finding it’s purpose through public realm 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

Winners for the Pineapples awards for place 2026 announced

See all the winners and read the judges citations after a glittering presentation at Trinity Buoy Wharf on 22 April 2026

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

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

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

The highest BID: Business Improvement Districts are becoming major players in high‑street placemaking, writes Harriet Saddington

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