An innovative new play space in Devonport, Plymouth, is helping to inject a new lease of life into an attractive but once under-used historic city park. Following a detailed consultation process with local stakeholders, the landscape team from Atkins has created a natural play area that is attracting families and inspiring young people from across the city.

In August 2007, the BBC announced: 'It's another big day in Derby's development as work starts on the £3.8m Cathedral Green, creating a modern new footbridge as well as seating and space for outside events. 'Two years later, Derby is proud to see the swing bridge nominated for the Prime Minister's award for Better Public Building.

Accessible, legible and walkable urban spaces, supported by a rich mix of urban uses, cycling routes, public transport and sustainable travel solutions, attract people and encourage activity.
A RUDI one-day event was held as part of the 2009 Transport Modelling Forum to explore a range of approaches, being developed by transport planners, urban designers and academics, that aim to understand how people move around and interact in towns and cities

Whitelaw Turkington's involvement began with a commission to put 'flesh on the bones' of the Town Centre Development Framework and Public Realm Strategy. The brief was to deliver a 'unique and distinctive' public realm for Ashford, raising the town's profile and setting a new standard for future development.

Our first task was to gain a full understanding of the context, both in terms of the immediate site and the wider town of Waterlooville. We found that the existing town, while being surrounded by countryside, had little relationship to it. There were virtually no public open spaces or parks for residents to enjoy.

In 2006, FCB Studios were appointed to work alongside Carey Jones Architects and Martha Schwartz Partners on the redesign of an approved outline design for the Wellington Place development, Leeds. Changing market conditions and new proposals for the surrounding west end of the city centre had led developer MEPC to reconsider its approach to the site.

Focusing stakeholder commitment on improved placemaking is one of the benefits of creating an Urban Framework Plan. KSA was appointed by Dundalk Town Council to prepare such a plan, with a brief that it should be flexible enough to adapt to changing retail, commercial and social trends. Obtaining a detailed understanding of a place is fundamental to establishing character.

The design partnership worked closely with West Lancashire District Council, Lancashire County Council, Burscough Parish Council, Lancashire County Council and a local community steering group. The community had clear preferences, with a new village clock being a top priority. The £1 million scheme, funded by West Lancashire Investors in Business Regeneration Programme (NWDA) also had the key objective of bringing about a dramatic change in how Burscough Bridge is perceived. watch the animation

Shared aspirations for this project, from client Sovereign Housing Association, working with Cavanna Homes and Torbay Council, include the delivery of an ‘exemplar’ sustainable, mixed tenure housing scheme. The sustainability targets set mean achieving the highest practical environmental standards; Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) levels 3 & 5. The project is expected to have a ‘wow’ factor; a landmark scheme that will trigger similar low carbon developments in Torbay.

Albonico Sack Mzumara (ASM), an architectural and urban design practice based in Johannesburg, South Africa, was appointed by the Johannesburg Development Agency, in association with MMA Architects, to prepare an urban design framework and business plan for the city’s Greater Ellis Park development. With Ellis Park Stadium selected as one of the venues that will host the 2010 World Cup, the Greater Ellis Park precinct, an area housing many of the city’s sports complexes, has benefited from a ZAR 2 billion facelift (£145,000,000).