Keep Up to Date with VU.CITY

Seasons greetings from us to you—it's right about time for the Monthly VU! 🎄

We're wrapping up the year with exciting updates, fresh perspectives on the built environment, and a peek at what’s on the horizon. So whether it's a mulled wine or a hot choccie, it's time to grab your drink of choice and sink your teeth into this month's scoop from VU.CITY. ⬇️

A Year-End Message from Our Commercial Director, Claire Locke

As we approach the end of 2024, we want to take a moment to thank you for being an integral part of our journey this year. Your support, feedback, and collaboration have been key to everything we’ve achieved.

Looking ahead, 2025 is shaping up to be a monumental year for VU.CITY, with exciting announcements just around the corner. As a customer-centric business, we remain dedicated to understanding and delivering on what matters most to you, and we look forward to working even more closely with you in the coming year.

Thank you for being on this journey with us—here’s to building smarter, better-connected cities together in 2025!

📢 VU.CITY are G-Cloud 14 Approved

We’re thrilled to announce that VU.CITY is now part of the Crown Commercial Service ’s G-Cloud 14 Digital Framework! This milestone makes it easier than ever for public sector organisations to access our cutting-edge planning tools.

With 48 Local Planning Authorities already on board—including 90% of London’s LPAs—this development streamlines procurement and enables even more councils to:

✔️ Make data-driven, collaborative decisions

✔️ Streamline feasibility studies

✔️ Enhance community engagement

Ready to bring smarter planning to your authority? 🔗 Learn more and find us on G-Cloud 14 here.

Insights from Our CEO

Our inclusion in the G-Cloud 14 Digital Framework marks a pivotal step in our mission to simplify the planning process and enable data-driven decision-making across the public sector.

By offering easier access to VU.CITY’s 3D digital city modelling platform, we’re fostering smoother collaboration, streamlining planning processes, and driving smarter decisions on projects that will shape the future of our communities.

Our CEO, Jamie Holmes , shares his thoughts on the opportunities this milestone unlocks for local authorities and the wider public sector. 🔗 Read Jamie’s insights here.

Preserving London’s skyline, protecting its heritage. 🏙️

Take a peek through VU.CITY ’s lens at St. Paul’s iconic viewing corridor. Our digital model allows you to visualise this crucial protected view, ensuring that every new project respects the city’s history while shaping its future. With this data at your fingertips, built environment professionals can confidently plan in harmony with London’s legacy, ensuring growth and preservation go hand in hand.

Unlocking Property Market Growth Award Winners 2024! 🏆

VU.CITY has been awarded the "Unlocking Property Market Growth" award at the UK PropTech Awards 2024! 🏆✨

We had a great night at the UK PropTech Awards 2024, which was made even better by the this recognition! We’re honoured to be celebrated for driving growth, streamlining planning, and uncovering new opportunities with VU.CITY .

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing team, clients, and partners who inspire us to keep pushing boundaries. Together, we’re shaping a brighter, more connected future for real estate! A big congratulations to all of the other award winners and nominees from the night.

Cityscape Global Round-Up ✅

Last month, our team had the privilege of attending Cityscape Global in Riyadh—one of the world's premier real estate events. Representing VU.CITY were our Co-founder Gordon Ingram , Commercial Director Claire Locke , and Chief Technology Officer Ossian Whiley .

The event was a whirlwind of insightful discussions, networking with industry leaders, and exploring the future of urban development. Reflecting on the experience, Ossian shared:

"Returning from an inspiring conference in Riyadh, it’s clear that the future of building in Saudi Arabia is set to be transformative. With a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and digital infrastructure, KSA is positioning itself as a global leader in digital twins and smart city development. Collaboration between local and international players will be key to unlocking the potential of this rapidly evolving landscape."

As we continue these exciting conversations, we’re proud to play a role in shaping the cities of tomorrow! Stay tuned for more updates from our global engagements.

The VU.CITY Vision: Shaping the Cities of Tomorrow 🌍 ✨

We’re excited to share our updated VU.CITY Vision Video, showcasing how our platform is transforming data visualisation to shape the cities of the future. From empowering better decision-making to creating more liveable, sustainable cities, VU.CITY is leading the way in shaping the cities of tomorrow.

See how our innovative 3D digital twin technology is helping to solve urban challenges and improve city living for everyone. Watch the video below now 🎥

🚨 £68M for Brownfield Redevelopment – Is Funding Alone Enough?

With 54 councils across England poised to redevelop neglected brownfield sites into 5,200 new homes, the potential is huge. But here’s the challenge: without the right tools, are we truly maximising this opportunity?

Addressing policy constraints, site viability, and environmental factors requires more than funding—it demands data-driven insights and precision planning. In our latest article, we delve into the power of Brownfield Passports and show how digital tools are transforming site prioritisation, planning, and redevelopment.

💡 Read the article to see how technology is paving the way for efficient and impactful brownfield redevelopment: Read now.

🎥 Watch the video to see how our platform turns these ideas into reality. Let’s make every pound of funding count.

We Asked, You Answered 🗳️

We recently asked our LinkedIn audience about the value of shared visualisation tools in planning—and the results? See below:

Question 1: “A shared 3D model enhances communication between applicants and local authorities, helping avoid misunderstandings in planning.”

🔹 Strongly Agree: 58% 🔹 Agree: 42%

With 100% of respondents recognising the benefits of shared 3D models, it’s clear that better communication is at the heart of successful planning. Enhanced understanding between stakeholders not only avoids misunderstandings but also builds trust and accelerates decision-making.

These findings reaffirm the importance of tools like VU.CITY in shaping a more efficient, collaborative future for planning professionals. 💡 How are you harnessing shared visualisation to overcome planning challenges? Let us know!

Sunlight Path on the Millennium Bridge 🌞

Ever wondered how sunlight interacts with the city? In our latest video, VU.CITY explores the sunlight path over London’s iconic Millennium Bridge.

Natural light is a game-changer in architecture and planning, influencing everything from sustainability to well-being. With VU.CITY, you can:

✅ Simulate sunlight patterns and shadows with precision.

✅ Stay ahead of daylight and sunlight regulations.

✅ Design spaces that maximise natural light and enhance liveability.

Watch the video below and discover how VU.CITY makes urban planning brighter.

Tackling the Challenges of Building Tall 🌆

We recently hosted an insightful webinar featuring industry experts Jessica Potter , Tom Nancollas , and Fabrizio Matillana , diving into the complexities of tall building height policy and its impact on our growing cities.

Key discussion points included: 🔹 How planning reform can de-risk high-rise development 🔹 The role of modern tools in shaping tall building policies during Pre-Application 🔹 Striking the balance between policy requirements and architectural creativity

It was a fantastic opportunity to explore how planning authorities and developers can work together to shape the skylines of tomorrow—creating city clusters that are innovative, sustainable, and well-designed.

🎥 Missed the webinar? Watch the full discussion here.

A huge thank you to Jessica, Tom, and Fabrizio for sparking such engaging conversation. We’re excited to keep driving the dialogue around the future of tall buildings!

Showcasing Wimbledon High Street ⬇️

We recently partnered with Love Wimbledon to create a fly-through video of Wimbledon High Street for the Wimbledon BID (Business Improvement District). Captured entirely in our 3D modelling platform, the video highlights the evolving urban landscape and supports local businesses and stakeholders in communicating their vision for the area.

Visual storytelling is a powerful way to engage communities, stakeholders, and investors. Whether you’re promoting a development, showcasing a district, or enhancing your marketing efforts, VU.CITY can help you create compelling visual content.

📩 Interested in creating a custom video for your project or organisation? Contact us today to bring your vision to life!

We hope the stories, successes, and insights shared from this issue have brought a little extra inspiration to your day. From celebrating milestones to exploring the tools shaping our cities, it’s been an amazing year—and we couldn’t have done it without you!

As the festive season gets into full swing, we wish you all the joy and cheer this time of year brings. Here’s to a fresh new year full of possibilities, exciting projects, and big ideas that shape the cities of tomorrow. Let’s make 2025 one to remember! 🎉

As always, we’re here to support and collaborate—reach out anytime with questions or ideas. ✍️✨ Don’t forget to visit VU.CITY and follow us on LinkedIn to stay in the loop with our latest news and updates.

Wishing you a wonderful festive season and a fantastic New Year, Warm regards,

VU.CITY 🎄✨

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