Enabling a Better Everyday: Panel Discussion

Explore Issue 2 of Public Notice through this enlightening panel discussion, where three leading voices in community engagement and place-making dive deep into the processes that lead to better, more inclusive built environments.

In this engaging conversation, Nana Biamah-Ofosu moderates a discussion with Janet Emmanuel, Sarah Harding, and Richard Eastham as they reflect on the challenges and successes in enabling high-quality, community-driven places. Featured prominently in the Process section of the magazine, the panellists discuss real-world examples, including the award-winning Citizens House project and the regeneration work in Waterlooville. Their insights explore the importance of community involvement, overcoming bureaucratic challenges, and championing inclusive design in both urban and rural settings.

As Richard Eastham explains, “Don’t be scared to share as much as possible with the community. The more information they have, the more invested they’ll be in the process. At the end of the day, they’ll carry that vision forward.”

Janet Emmanuel, reflecting on the Citizens House project, adds, “Housing belongs to the community, not to private developers. It’s about making sure that we’re listening and engaging from the very start—if you get the engagement right, the rest will follow.”

1. Engage with the Community from the Start: Sarah Harding highlights how her transition from architectural practice to local authority planning made her acutely aware of the need for better community engagement and quality planning. “It’s been fulfilling to push for quality in a system bogged down by backlogs, working to ensure the spaces we create are meaningful and inclusive,” she reflects.
2. Co-Design is Crucial for High-Quality Housing: Janet Emmanuel’s experience with Citizens House demonstrates the power of community-led design. “From the very beginning, it was about listening to what the community wanted, not just designing for them,” she shares. The project’s success hinged on the active involvement of local residents in every step, from selecting architects to deciding on the allocation process for homes.
3. Challenging the Status Quo to Build Trust: Richard Eastham’s work in Waterlooville shows how to empower communities by actively involving them in shaping their built environment. “Listening is important, but challenging is just as critical,” he says, discussing the innovative engagement methods used, like walking tours and community workshops, that led to an enriching, responsive design process.
4. Transparency Builds Long-Term Support: As Richard also mentions, sharing detailed information about the development process not only demystifies regeneration but also earns the trust of the community. By showing the evolution of the project, residents became more invested, seeing their ideas transform into tangible outcomes.
5. Widening Collaborations for Impact: Janet emphasizes the importance of broadening partnerships to access more resources and land, noting, “We need to build stronger relationships with institutions like the NHS, who hold valuable land that could be used to address the housing crisis.”
6. Perseverance is Key: Throughout their experiences, all panellists stress the importance of perseverance in navigating the complexities of local governance and community relations. Janet captures this sentiment perfectly: “You have to keep pushing, but when you build the right relationships, the work becomes easier.”

This discussion illuminates the vital processes that underpin successful place-making and housing delivery, offering valuable lessons for anyone involved in shaping communities. Dive deeper into these discussions in Issue 2 of Public Notice to learn more about how effective processes can lead to lasting, positive change.

You can listen to the full audio recording now, using the link below.

You can also download a full transcript of this discussion.