Building Future Communities

HOST

Carolyn Brady

Partner - Belfast

carolyn.brady@uk.rlb.com

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Can We Have It All? Rethinking Housing Through the Lens of Place, People and Purpose

Design, quality, liveability and sustainability are no longer nice-to-haves; they’re must-haves in today’s housing market. But with the multiplicity of demands on the sector, can we really have it all, or do we need to make trade-offs about what matters most?

With the Government’s ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2030, how do we build at pace, integrate smart infrastructure, sustainable transport, and energy investment, and what planning and funding reforms do we need to ensure that successful placemaking combines with community value? These were some of the questions explored during the recent UKREiiF session I had the pleasure of hosting with a prestigious panel of guests.

The Viability Gap and the Trade Off

While many agreed that the right policies are largely in place, the real obstacle is viability. How do we bridge the gap between what a project costs and what society can afford? Deciding what is important and what is urgent, and how we bring these things together, is often the challenge.

Capacity, Climate and Culture

Beyond viability, panellists raised concerns about capacity, especially with the industry facing a labour challenge, outside of high-income urban hubs. And although local leaders were seeing placemaking through a local lens, if we didn’t build enough affordable housing, the social inequality divide and regional gap would continue to widen.

However, capacity and viability weren’t the only factors under scrutiny in today’s complex housing landscape. The environmental impact of large-scale new developments was also front and centre.

Retrofitting existing housing stock was highlighted as a more sustainable path, potentially saving up to 38% of the cumulative climate carbon budget. The UK also has 1.2 million underutilised second homes, and, unlike in other countries, we lack a strong culture of downsizing, leading to mismatches between home spaces and actual need.

Regeneration with a Local Soul

The conversation shifted to how we regenerate while retaining the provenance of a place, with Belfast’s Titanic Quarter held up as an example of good practice. Successful regeneration starts with understanding the history and identity of a place and staying true to a shared vision.

Community involvement from day one was seen as essential. Moving beyond “build them and they will come”, the panellists agreed that regeneration must be designed with communities, not just for them. The social fabric must be woven intentionally, through early engagement, phase development, and curated commercial anchors that support both economic and social outcomes and take the community from just dwellers to stewardship of an area.

Digital is the New Essential Infrastructure

Digital infrastructure – connectivity and capacity – was seen as essential for creating an inclusive, equitable, competitive and sustainable society. From energy-efficient buildings to responsive transport management, technology plays a vital role in placemaking and must be integrated from the start.

Without strong digital connectivity, we can’t enable the sensor networks, data-driven planning, or dynamic energy systems that define future-ready places.

Redefining Success in Placemaking

Traditional metrics like footfall and land value no longer tell the full story. Instead, placemaking must now be judged by broader social outcomes. Are we creating employment for locals? Are we strengthening community identity? And are we enhancing wellbeing and happiness in the areas with our regeneration?

Financing the Future

The panel concluded with a look at the evolving funding landscape. Blended public private partnerships, shared risk models, and performance-based metrics will be critical, as well as exploring new forms of ownership and finance to better align with impact goals.

The session left the audience with lots to think about – how we meet ambitious housing goals, without compromising on climate? How do we regenerate with communities at the heart of the process and how do we fund all of this, sustainably and equitably?