On Wednesday 26th April 2023, the Building Garden Communities conference returned to RIBA London for their third annual conference. Trustgreen were delighted to sponsor the event as an Associate Partner.
The conference brings together councils, housebuilders, planners, stakeholders and industry experts within garden communities to discuss key topics.
The day was packed with sessions that covered Making the Financial and Political Case for Garden Communities, Designing for the Future, Adapting for Future Travel, Building Inclusivity and Creating Jobs, and Decarbonisation.
Richard Thomas, our Group Sustainability Manager and BNG expert was part of the ‘Designing for the Future’ discussion panel, alongside Chris Bath, Partner and Urban Designer at BPTW, Mike Axon, Managing Director at SLR Consulting (formerly Vectos) and Ruth Bryan, Head of Development at Ebbsfleet Development Corporation.
The panel highlighted the opportunity garden communities have in being able to deliver exemplary design and set new standards. Richard outlined four key points to keep in mind when designing for a garden community – is it deliverable, is it sustainable, is it manageable and is it desirable?
Richard said: “Good design is a sustainable long-term vision that takes into account what the area needs in terms of the people that live there, but also the habitats that will be back.”
Following the panel discussions there was a chance for all the attendees to share thoughts from the sessions and discuss best practice with like-minded professionals.
The day drew to a close with a drink’s reception, with the opportunity for further discussion and networking.
