Community: Creating community through construction

Belonging to a community is a powerful need in humans and is central to our wellbeing.

In this report we investigate the ways that two major urban regeneration projects are working with existing communities and helping to seed future ones with investment, imagination and a commitment to the social value of what they do.

Through case studies and interviews with key people, the report sets out the work of both U+I at Mayfield in Manchester and The Earls Court Development Company at their iconic site in London.

At Mayfield, U+I prioritised delivering a large park at the very start of the construction process, and have carried out numerous community activations, including providing a live music venue. Read the report to find out why they made these decisions and what benefits they have brought.

The Earls Court Development Company has provided a vibrant community hub has enabled conversations with local people, while offering all sorts of activities for the community. They’ve also provided innovative cultural activations – including the Underbelly Festival and the BBC Earth Experience – showing that a site does not have to sit empty and unused through the duration of the construction process.

The report also sets out a series of recommendations to help other organisations create community through construction.