The APPG on Building Communities has launched its debut report, Productive Placemaking.

Chaired by Bob Blackman MP, the cross-party group's has demonstrated the link between place, planning and placemaking. At a special virtual APPG meeting, the group discussed the report's findings following introductory comments from Peter Hogg, UK cities director at Arcadis and Barny Evans from WSP in the UK.  Replay the launch event below.

The report stressed the importance of access to public open spaces, better infrastructure, and greater engagement and understanding of existing local communities.

The findings are especially important when considered through the prism of COVID-19. The emergence of a ‘new normal’ means that development models now need to be reassessed to ensure that new homes are spacious, light and airy, and that people are able to go shopping, spend time in nature or to see a doctor within a 10-15 minute walk from home.

Commenting on the report’s research, APPG chairman Bob Blackman MP, said: “We need to build a flexible and resilient post-COVID society. This means that we will need to push developers and planners to make better use of space – we will always need space for residents and their visitors to park their cars - but we need bike racks, children’s playgrounds, nature trails, outdoor gyms, community allotments, and more to provide the facilities required.”

“We have a number of great examples in this report of good design and stewardship which promotes better mental and physical health and produces positive and productive places. This is also fundamentally important to delivering community, which will be the best way to ensure our villages, towns and cities are resilient to the effects of the exceptional times we are living through, and productive in the years and decades to come.”

Find out more about the APPG on Building Communities. Download the report below.