Driving Sustainable Communities: Hill at the Sustainable Masterplanning Panel

We know that the way cities and neighbourhoods are planned today shapes their resilience for tomorrow. With climate change, urban growth, and rising inequality presenting unprecedented challenges, sustainable masterplanning is essential.

We were proud to participate in the recent Sustainable Masterplanning Breakfast at Design West, Bristol, hosted by Greengage Environmental Ltd. Our Sustainability Director, Andrew Day, joined an expert panel alongside representatives from LDA Design, the National Trust, and Bristol City Council, discussing how sustainable masterplanning can create healthier, more inclusive, and regenerative communities.

The discussion highlighted that sustainable masterplanning is about more than just buildings, it is about delivering long-term social, environmental, and economic value. Key themes included placemaking, place-keeping, and the just transition. The panel also shared insights on how to carry a vision through to lasting delivery.

Andrew's key takeaways from the session included:

• Collaborative early-stage visioning is critical, underpinned by clear and deliverable mixed-tenure and mixed-use strategies.
   
• Sharing and managing risk helps maintain momentum from the initial vision through to delivery and long-term stewardship.
   
• Effective regeneration can deliver inclusive, lasting wellbeing, while supporting resilient local economies and environments.
   
• Learning from successful projects across regions is essential to building best practices and advancing the sector.
   

These insights reinforce our approach to designing inclusive and connected neighbourhoods that balance homes with nature and wellbeing, delivering long-term community value.

Participating in panels like this is a tangible way for us to share expertise, learn from others, and continue to drive sustainable change across the communities we build.