​​​​​​​​​​​​​​19 June 2025

Guest Blog : Gemma Dean, Head of Development - Creative Land Trust

“Renewal not Replacement” summed up much of the conversation at this morning’s Movers and Shakers property breakfast, bringing together a cross section of over 200 professionals from the property sector. 

I was struck at the event how bringing together multi-disciplinary insights and conversations is so important to join the dots, in what can be a complex but very rewarding process for urban renewal. 

Participating in a conversation with a structural engineer and an arts curator over morning coffee was a reminder of how there is always common ground in the property sector – in this case when it comes to speaking about loading points and fabrication of contemporary public artworks!

Leigh Salter introduced the event, facilitating an open conversation and prompting discussion. I was grateful to hear from Paul Morrish at Land Aid to remind us of those life chances we can create when thinking of people furthest away from economic opportunity, and how much richer and inclusive our urban environment can be when all are supported to reach their potential. 

We work in a very emotional industry

Imogen Thompson from ULI delivered a data driven and thought-provoking summary of the major influences on decisions in real estate today and how this impacts the investment appeal of cities. She emphasised that behind the data, it’s people making decisions. While geopolitical instability is overwhelmingly the biggest current consideration according to ULI surveys, there are other trends that are more divisive such as the potential for AI or attitudes to ESG. She suggested that when we dig deeper, the divisiveness is more about language usage and semantics rather than desired outcomes. Her call out to the audience was ‘let’s not call it ESG anymore’. Instead, the focus is on framing how we think more about the framework to grow interesting and resilient cities. 

Working to a London Plan that recognises the ‘creative, cultural, diverse, inclusive spirit’ of London as a whole

There are six big shifts driving London’s next cycle of reinvention according to Philip Graham of GLA’s Good Growth team’s presentation on the London Plan. This focuses on London remaining at the forefront of innovation but looking at how productivity can regain its growth rate. With this, comes a requirement to look at having the right kind of spaces to work from that respond to the changing nature of work, and for those industries that will support growth. 

Doing what is not obliged and embracing the spaces in between

A panel of experts from all perspectives of urban renewal were challenged by Chair, Vivienne King, to go from the general to the actual in presenting case studies and examples for what good looks like in urban renewal. Selina Mason from Lend Lease spoke about the power of public spaces and the importance of making them enjoyable for both existing and incoming communities at new developments, as that’s where real connections happen. Eliot Postma of Heatherwick Studio extended the importance of emotions as a function of design. He believes that adopting this approach has the potential to motivate more care, adaption and renewed sense of place for communities, residents and users of spaces. Dan Scanlon from Brookfield Properties, spoke about their approach to places and how doing the ‘bit you’re not obliged to do’ can be the thing that adds real value. Approaching real estate as experiential is what leads to more enriching spaces, attracts visitors and ensures the long-term occupancy of places.  Nabeel Khan, London Borough of Lambeth, brought it back to importance of the public role in being custodians of space and keeping folk in mind who might not be in the room, otherwise developments become replacement and not renewal. He stressed the importance of really understanding the issues that matter to people when using spaces, before putting a label on the discussion around ESG. We can be thinking more, for instance, about how often this is a public health and child safety issue. 

By the end of the panel discussion, I was buzzing to talk more about these issues and certainly have more of a sense of the key drivers for positive urban renewal from policy, research, development, and design perspectives, as well as thinking about ways I can better connect to various professions through my own role in delivering affordable creative workspace. While it can be an overwhelming topic, it’s something all of us working in property contribute to in some way. With more connection and consideration provided by events like this, we’re more likely to make that a positive contribution.