Community and stakeholders’ engagement is at the heart of what I do. There is little value in progressing a scheme if it does not address local issues and aspirations, and who better than the local residents can help a designer to do that?

I have delivered many schemes where residents have been engaged from the very outset. When people feel heard and is genuinely part of the process, support grows, ideas flow, and the project becomes something people feel proud of—not just something that happens to them.

This is a scheme that kept me busy for a couple of years when I was working for Sustrans with the brilliant Phillippa Bannister (who later went on to found Street Space). It was hard work, but also incredibly inspiring.

We are both very proud of what we achieved, not only in terms of design but the relationship we forged with the local community.

It is heart warming to look back at this great video. It’s more than just a record—it’s a reminder of how rewarding this project was, how much we achieved together, and the real value of engaging communities in design.