Pollard Thomas Edwards

Tonight, Pollard Thomas Edwards launches Happy Homes, a groundbreaking social value ‘app’ that has the power to transform residential design for years to come.   The sold-out show, at the architect’s Diespeker Wharf workspace, will share the findings of the now-complete 24-month Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnerships research programme focused on measuring social value in the design of homes. In a nutshell, Happy Homes pulls together residents’ experience of social value in housing with insight from architects and multidisciplinary teams. Partner Patrick Devlin and project leader Gloria A. Vargas Palma will also outline next steps as Happy Homes, a KTP between PTE and the University of Reading and University of Cambridge, enters the product development phase. As Dr Palma explains: ‘Over the past two years, through in-depth interviews and home visits, we have been building an unprecedented database that shows how thoughtful design inspires positive responses in residents. Tonight, we will show how Happy Homes can empower designers and clients to recognise the genuine social value embedded in the homes they deliver.’ Ultimately, Happy Homes will serve as a powerful resource, identifying patterns of social value and guiding innovative strategies that create long term value through design. The next stage is the creation of a Happy Homes ‘toolkit’ – with an easy-to-use interface with clear, informative feedback and ultimately a Happy Homes BIM plug-in so design teams can embed ‘social value’ into their designs at the earliest stage. In the coming months we will also provide regular updates detailing how you can get involved - accessing free-to-use online project testing and feedback to develop and validate the Happy Homes toolkit, supported by project partners.   Why should I use Happy Homes? Design Teams - Happy Homes helps teams refine, innovate and challenge design proposals, improving decisions on the spaces, elements and details that enhance social value. Developers - Happy Homes supports developers in making earlier, better decisions on design, delivery, and operations, enhancing product appeal and residents’ wellbeing. Residents - Happy Homes enables residents to share valued social experiences, ensuring their feedback will shape the design of their future homes. #happyhomesproject #socialvalue

Emerging themes from our climate resilience conference include: financial innovation; partnerships for climate action, and strengthening community connections. We have just published all the write-ups from our conference in October called Climate Resilience and Equity, with over 50 speakers and panellists contributing their insights and ideas for tackling the major challenge facing London and all cities. In a keynote address, Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy stressed the importance of understanding climate resilience as an equity issue. “Climate resilience in London is a big challenge that we know impacts our vulnerable communities,” said the Deputy Mayor. “It's an issue of social justice and it's an issue of racial justice.” We also heard from Emma Howard Boyd CBE who chaired the recent review of London's climate resilience, commissioned by the Mayor of London. She emphasised the importance of channelling money into local communities to ensure climate action supported social justice. She also highlighted the importance of cross-London partnerships, particularly with the boroughs. “It’s making sure that we’re looking at carbon reductions alongside resilience, but also understanding that what happens in one part of London will have a direct impact somewhere far away in London.” Indy Johar of Dark Matter Labs provided the starkest challenge to the conference, which he likened to moving to a "war economy". He warned of the risks of societal breakdown and argued that ensuring stability was vital to the major social and economic transition required. “I’m not pointing out these problems because I think they’re insurmountable," he said. "I’m pointing them out because unless we engage with the promised case as it is, our solutions will be largely illusions.” Following the conference, our CEO Nicola Mathers described community engagement as the "heart of our conference”, highlighting how much the built environment sector can learn from people’s lived experience of climate impacts. “Resilience requires strong communities, and the sector can build this through community involvement that makes all Londoners feel part of a shared mission to meet the climate change challenge,” she said. You can read the write-ups of all the conference sessions with speaker video interviews via the link in the comments below. Thanks to the programme steering group and sponsors who made the conference possible. Becci Taylor | Patrick Devlin | Rhianna Wilsher | Nicola Tilbury MRICS | Tom Beardmore | Rob Krzyszowski | Dr Tom Dollard | Laura Murray | Jacob Heitland Arup | Countryside Partnerships | Mount Anvil | Local Partnerships LLP | Impact on Urban Health | Pollard Thomas Edwards | Potter Raper | Trowers & Hamlins #FutureOfLondon #ClimateResilienceEquity

Yesterday saw the AGM of the Islington Sustainability Network, which is now at 136 members and going from strength to strength. It is always great to have an opportunity to meet members and see the benefit of a network where so many different types of organisations that are at different places on their sustainability journey can come together. The talks by Love Design Studio, Pollard Thomas Edwards and the Wellcome Trust on climate adaptation were fascinating and a good reminder that mitigation is only one half of the climate change story. As the outgoing chair I'm really glad to be leaving the network in the hands of the excellent Andy Love and Connor Rusby and can't wait to support them in making it even better. Gearoid Kennedy, also deserves a mention as our project manager who is on a mission to help every small business he can find and is the engine room of the network.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for last night’s #Nerdworking event at Pollard Thomas Edwards 🎉 Exploring LEGO Serious Play with Climate Play it was a fantastic evening of creativity and connection, bringing together #architects and #builtenvironment professionals in a fun and informal setting. #Nerdworking will be back in January 2025, but for now, we want to express our gratitude to everyone who participated throughout 2024 and to our amazing sponsors Vandersanden and Seven for their support! See you in the new year for more inspiring and playful events! 🧩✨ Peter Greaves

Congratulations Hill Group UK and the PTE Marleigh team🏆 🙌

Our first speaker of today’s second #NZL session was Dr Tom Dollard of Pollard Thomas Edwards. He discussed several case studies where sustainable specification has made a significant impact. He stressed that “Net zero specification really needs to step up. At the moment we are looking at the traditional build methods and not really embodied carbon”

Our updated design for the first phase of the Barnsbury Estate in Islington was unanimously backed by the council’s planning committee last week. The scheme for Newlon Housing Trust and Mount Anvil will deliver 134 homes in Phase1a – 32 more homes than the previous consent - for the estate’s existing residents. Plans for the longstanding neighbourhood near Kings Cross, which will be built to new fire safety standards, include a new community centre, children’s nursery, and improved streets, parks, and play areas for all ages. Phase 1a is part of a wider regeneration plan for the 1930s- and 1960s-built estate, that will create up to 540 new homes as well as redeveloping and refurbishing more than 600 others. This will involve upgrading the 1930s red-brick blocks of ‘Old Barnsbury’ and rebuilding New Barnsbury, which was created after the Second World War with PTE’s newbuild proposals - mews homes, mansion blocks and terraces - drawing upon existing architecture and details. PTE Partner Warrick Thomas, said: 'We have designed the masterplan around a network of routes that reinstate historic street patterns and a family of buildings that celebrate the local area.' The plans were approved in a residents’ ballot in April 2021 with almost three in four eligible voters backing our plans in a poll. 

Great team effort – congratulations. Well done Domi Oliver, Warrick Thomas, Katie Martindale-Toole, Nina Virdi, Samuel Sayle

🎄 Join us for a festive evening at the Women in Social Housing (WISH) London Winter Party 2024! ⭐ Hosted by Pollard Thomas Edwards and proudly sponsored by calfordseaden, TLT LLP, and Castle Peak Group, this is an opportunity to celebrate, connect with the WISH (Women In Social Housing) network, and make a meaningful impact this season raising money for Crisis. Sarah Walters will provide powerful insights into the homelessness crisis and share how our fundraising efforts can make a real difference. 🗓 Date: Tuesday, December 10th ⏰ Time: 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM 📍 Venue: Pollard Thomas Edwards, Diespeker Wharf, 38 Graham Street, N1 8JX (Close to Angel and Old Street tube stations) 🎟 More details to follow about the Crisis Charity Fundraiser Let’s come together to support those in need. Register now and be part of a memorable evening! #WISHLondon #WinterParty #CharityEvent #Networking #SupportCrisis Hony Premlal MBA CIHCM 🔥🌟👑Rebecca Lee Pamela Sinnott Juliette Bartlett Gavinder Ryait Violet Tariro Pugh ✨ Gill Dunningham Gill Cook Emmeline Kelly (MCIM) Tracey McEachran FRSA, MA, PCC (She/Her) Anneka Gill Michelle Donovan Frances Young Janine Newton Alice Odeke Register your place here: https://lnkd.in/eFkxPjMV

Is your London-based public sector organisation looking for decarbonisation support? Join one of the upcoming introductory webinars to learn more about the specific support available from the Mayor of London’s Zero Carbon Accelerator. Ask the expert team questions about the support available, from training and skills development to expert consultancy around procurement, finance and funding. 22 November: https://lnkd.in/ej-4XWn3 16 December: https://lnkd.in/ee7nTR6G PTE is proud to support the delivery of the Mayor of London’s Zero Carbon Accelerator, a programme aimed at helping organisations decarbonise and achieve London’s net zero target by 2030.  If you'd like to know more about the programme please get in touch with Dr Tom Dollard