The Importance of Place Shaping in our Regeneration Projects

• Place Shaping lies at the heart of successful regeneration projects, transforming not only the physical spaces but also fostering a sense of ownership, pride, and community among residents. 
• Place Shaping is one of our six pillars within our Clarion 2050 Strategy and our Regeneration Team has embraced this approach, creating meaningful partnerships with residents, construction teams, and local organisations to ensure that every project their working on leaves a lasting legacy.
• Two of the most recent examples of some of the Regeneration work carried out is at our Sutton Estate in Chelsea and Barne Barton in Plymouth. In these communities, our colleagues have worked collaboratively with residents, empowering them to shape and take ownership of their homes and communal areas, taking into account their views and knowledge at every opportunity.

Building communities, not just homes

Regeneration is about much more than bricks and mortar. At Sutton Estate, our efforts have focused on creating communal gardens and shared spaces that reflect residents’ aspirations. Through collaboration with our construction partners and local community groups, we have transformed underutilised areas into vibrant, multifunctional spaces that residents can cherish for generations.

Similarly, in Barne Barton, we’ve prioritised resident engagement at every stage of the regeneration process. By forming strong, organic relationships with residents, we’ve ensured their voices are central to the design and use of their community spaces. From garden projects to recreational areas, the focus has been on creating environments that residents can truly call their own.

At Eastfields in Merton, with initial help from professional gardeners at a local social enterprise, residents set up a gardening club. Residents of all ages are involved in building large planters, planting flowers, fruit, vegetables, and fruit trees, allowing true ownership of their community and communal spaces at the Eastfields estate in Mitcham.

We have also carried out greening projects in High Path, Wimbledon where a balcony greening project was run with residents who moved into the first new homes. As well as this, we donated four semi-mature trees to the local primary school near High Path, which Year One and Year Four pupils were involved in planting.

Fostering ownership through engagement

Place Shaping thrives when residents feel a genuine connection to their surroundings. To achieve this, we’ve hosted a range of community events, such as senior lunches, summer events and much more to bring people together. These gatherings have not only strengthened the bonds within the community but have also given us invaluable opportunities to hear directly from residents, and for them to hear from us in person and in a more informal and open environment.

For example, Sheila, a long-time resident, shared her personal history and stories of life on a Clarion estate with the Regeneration team whilst we were asking for input into how a communal garden on the estate could be improved. Her experiences, filled with rich anecdotes and insights, along with those of many other residents on the estate, were used as part of a social history project and exhibition at the Saatchi Galler. They have subsequently been shared across our central communications team for roadshows and celebration events, serving as a testament to our heritage as a company and the vibrant community life we aim to preserve and enhance.

Creating a lasting legacy

The ultimate goal of our regeneration work is to ensure that residents feel a deep sense of ownership and pride in their homes and communal spaces. By involving them at every step, from planning and design to ongoing stewardship, we enable communities to thrive long after the construction crews have left.

In all our regeneration projects across the country, this legacy is evident in the relationships we’ve built with residents, the care taken to create spaces they value, and the efforts to ensure these spaces remain meaningful for generations. By empowering residents to maintain and cherish their homes and communities, we’re fostering a culture of sustainability.